Eisenach: Wartburg, Luther’s Legacy and the Dragon Gorge

Eisenach combines an impressive history with hiking destinations offering very different route profiles. The Wartburg, almost a thousand years old, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; at the same time, the Rennsteig hiking trail begins in Eisenach-Hörschel. Those choosing Eisenach as a holiday destination can therefore shape their stay around both cultural history and hikes in the surrounding area.

Hikes with different route profiles

A 6.5 km hike leads from Eisenach’s market square through the Dragon Gorge to Hohe Sonne. The route is listed as taking about three hours and covering 320 metres of elevation gain. A second hike also starts at the market square and leads via Drachenstein to Hohe Sonne. At 7.5 km, it is longer, takes about three hours as well, and has 250 metres of elevation gain. This allows you to compare routes by distance and elevation gain: the shorter route has more elevation gain, while the longer one has less.

The Rennsteig is another hiking highlight, with its trail beginning in Eisenach-Hörschel. The Dragon Gorge, meanwhile, is a walkable rocky gorge at Steinbach, 250 million years old. You can explore it on your own or join a guided hike. These tours cover its history and geology as well as its plant and animal life.

The Wartburg and Luther’s legacy

Several defining themes in the city’s history come together at the Wartburg: it is associated with Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible and with the life and work of Saint Elisabeth. Its richly decorated buildings and chambers illustrate medieval and late Romanesque architecture and ways of life. The castle thus offers more than a single historical connection—its architecture and rooms provide different glimpses into past worlds.

The Luther House is also dedicated to Martin Luther, here as a schoolboy, reformer and Bible translator. Its exhibits include unique medieval art treasures, works by Cranach and Johann Sebastian Bach’s baptismal record. Those especially interested in Luther, art or the city’s history will find a different way to explore Eisenach’s past here than at the Wartburg.

The history of technology and musical connections

The “automobile welt eisenach” presents historic vehicles, body design studies, prototypes and construction plans in a historic factory hall. One particularly vivid feature is the historic Dixi repair workshop from 1912: it covers about 60 m² and contains twelve original machine tools powered by transmission belts. There is also a carpentry workshop and a wheelwright’s workshop. This offers another way to explore Eisenach’s history through workshops and vehicles.

St. George’s Church is Johann Sebastian Bach’s baptismal church and was founded by Ludwig III at the end of the 12th century. The Wartburg Festival of the student fraternities began here in 1817. Recurring festivals and music events also mark the calendar: Eisenach’s Sommergewinn spring festival takes place every year three weeks before Easter, while the Telemann Days are held every two years.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Eisenach, your preferred type of trip can be a good starting point: consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on hiking, the Wartburg and Luther’s legacy, the history of technology or musical connections. These themes offer different reasons to discover Eisenach, without requiring you to commit to just one focus.

Discover more places

If you would also like to explore other places in the directory: Diedorf, Frankenroda, Treffurt, Dermbach, Klings, Barchfeld-Immelborn, Buttlar and Gerstungen.

For the overview of the wider area: Wartburg.