Wittgenstein Castle

Wittgenstein
	View from the east over the moat to the castle site
Creation time :	12th Century
Castle type :	Höhenburg, spur location
Conservation status:	Burgstall, Wall and Graben
Standing position :	Local nobility
Place:	Wutha Farnroda
Geographical location	50 ° 55 '44 .5 " N , 10 ° 23' 49.5" E Coordinates: 50 ° 55 '44.5 " N , 10 ° 23' 49.5" E
Height:	320 m above sea level NN

The Castle Wittgenstein is an Outbound High Middle Spur castle in Thuringia .

The rock face of a Zechstein reef at 320 m above sea level, which rises steeply 30 m above the Erbstromtal in the district of Farnroda in the municipality of Wutha-Farnroda in the Wartburg district . NN offered natural protection for the construction of a small spur castle, whose primary purpose was initially to monitor the old road that crossed the valley near the castle site. From the Wittgenstein, only the wide, sickle-shaped moat on the western edge of the mountain has been preserved. In the north, the castle site extends into the grounds of a garden, in the south, mining tunnels were dug into the steep slope 200 years ago, they were supposed to feed further copper ore to the smelter there. Several broken tunnels can be found on the wooded slope.

In the late 13th century, the Farnroda moated castle was another castle complex near Farnroda, which probably meant the end of Wittgenstein Castle.

Legends tell of the unexpected appearance of a beautiful white woman or princess on Wittgenstein, who cast a spell over the passing Farnroda musicians with her charm. The promised treasure was not won, but cave explorers from the village actually discovered a narrow crevice in the Zechstein reef above the gardens, where people once stayed centuries ago. In addition to the remains of charcoal from a fire, the researchers also found an old clay pot there.

The scenic area around the Wittgenstein was to be upgraded to a residential area in the mid-1990s, more weekend houses were planned in the countryside, but the suggestion was rejected because of the danger of urban sprawl.

The castle site on the Wittgenstein is a protected ground monument . There is a vantage point on the edge of the rock and allows a view of the middle Erbstromtal near Farnroda and Thal.

Individual evidence

^ Wolfgang Eberhardt: Old roads and ways from Hesse and Franconia to and through Thuringia (III 1/2) . In: Dietrich Grille, Herbert Hömig (ed.): Culture and history of Thuringia . tape 14 . Europaforum-Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-931070-06-9 , pp. 76-82, 191 .
^ Eisenach and the surrounding area. Wartburg district, north . In: Sven Ostritz (Hrsg.): Archaeological hiking guide Thuringia . No. 11 . Beier & Beran, Weimar 2011, ISBN 978-3-937517-67-4 , Wittgenstein castle ruins and old mining, p. 111 .
↑ Manfred Thiele et al: From treasures, Venetians and ghosts. Legends from the area of Ruhla, Seebach, Thal and Winterstein . Ruhla 1985, The Wittgenstein. The Farnroda New Year Singers. The light on the jetty., P. 25-28 .
^ H. Kleinschidt: Wittgenstein not a backdrop for living in the country . In: Eisenacher Allgemeine, edition of January 13, 1995 . January 13, 1995.

[Eberhardt1997-1] Wolfgang Eberhardt: Old roads and ways from Hesse and Franconia to and through Thuringia (III 1/2) . In: Dietrich Grille, Herbert Hömig (ed.): Culture and history of Thuringia . tape 14 . Europaforum-Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-931070-06-9 , pp. 76-82, 191 .

[TLAD_Führer11-2] Eisenach and the surrounding area. Wartburg district, north . In: Sven Ostritz (Hrsg.): Archaeological hiking guide Thuringia . No. 11 . Beier & Beran, Weimar 2011, ISBN 978-3-937517-67-4 , Wittgenstein castle ruins and old mining, p. 111 .

[Sagen-3] Manfred Thiele et al: From treasures, Venetians and ghosts. Legends from the area of Ruhla, Seebach, Thal and Winterstein . Ruhla 1985, The Wittgenstein. The Farnroda New Year Singers. The light on the jetty., P. 25-28 .

[4] H. Kleinschidt: Wittgenstein not a backdrop for living in the country . In: Eisenacher Allgemeine, edition of January 13, 1995 . January 13, 1995.