Palaces and Castles

Thuringia owes its extraordinary wealth of former royal seats to the principalities of the early modern era. The region’s lands were ruled by many different dynasties for more than four centuries. The cultural treasures that originate from that time remain for everyone to admire today. As well as the great residences, there are many grand buildings located away from the main streets. In Arnstadt, the ruins of Neideck Castle and the New Palace with its museum provide fascinating insights into courtly life. Heidecksburg Palace in Rudolstadt is beautifully preserved and highly sought after as a backdrop for TV and film productions, while Gotha is home to one of the region’s finest baroque ensembles, the ‘Baroque Universe’ with its four museums, theatre and palace park. The Almanach de Gotha, the most famous directory of the European nobility, was also published here for over 180 years and remains an important means of proving aristocratic ancestry.

Tourist Attractions

Altenburg

Altenburg Residence Castle

Perched on a porphyry stone ridge, the Residence Castle, which houses the Castle and Playing Cards Museum, still towers…

Apolda

Apolda Castle

In the 12th century, the most dominating structure in the city’s „skyline” was the fortress, the later castle, which…

Weimar

BELVEDERE PALACE

The entire ensemble, including the palace, a park with baroque gardens, the former zoo and the orangery, was built in…

Gotha

CASTLE PARK AND ORANGERY

The castle is surrounded by an English garden landscape with two ponds, gently winding paths and old, stately trees.…

Eisenach

City Castle

The City Castle was built in the mid-18th century by Duke Ernst August according to the plans of the architect…

Meiningen

ELISABETHENBURG CASTLE

The former residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Meiningen was built as a baroque three-winged complex between 1682 and 1692…

Saalfeld

FORMER RESIDENCE PALACE

Built between 1677 and 1720 on the site of the former Ottonian royal palace of the 10th century and a later Benedictine…

Gotha

Friedenstein Castle

Friedenstein Castle is the largest early baroque castle ensemble in Germany and is one of the few castles and museums…

Bad Langensalza

FRIEDERIKE’S CASTLE

The little baroque summer castle of Duchess Friederike of Saxe-Weißenfels accompanied by an idyllic park and…

Rudolstadt

HEIDECKSBURG RESIDENCE CASTLE

The former residence castle is one of the most magnificent baroque castles in Thuringia. It is home to the Thuringian…

Arnstadt

Neideck Ruin and Gardener´s House

Up until the present day, the Neideck tower displays the magnificence and grandeur of days past. With a height of 65…

Erfurt

Petersberg Citadel

The only largely preserved baroque city fortress in Central Europe. It was built by the sovereigns of the Electorate of…

Sondershausen

RESIDENTIAL PALACE ENSEMBLE

The former residence palace (13th-20th century) of the Schwarzburg-Sondershausen princes with its palace park, baroque…

Eisenach

Wartburg Castle

The castle, which has belonged to UNESCO World Heritage since 1999, has served as a protective fortress and a splendid…

Schmalkalden

WILHELMSBURG CASTLE

Built between 1585 and 1590 as a secondary residence of the Hessian landgraves, the castle is considered a unique jewel…