Bad Liebenstein Castle Ruin

It is not possible to connect the many von Stein families which are documented in the Thuringian region since the 12th century with all those castles in the Thuringian Forest and its foothills whose names end in –stein. However, with regard to the castle ruin of Liebenstein north-east of the spa-town of Bad Liebenstein there is documentary evidence that in 1360 the Lords von Stein who resided in nearby Altenstein received Liebenstein Castle as a fief from the Thuringian landgrave. After the conversion of the castle into a fortified residence the noble family moved from Altenstein to the nearby Burgberg (castle hill) in 1386. From this time on there was a frequent succession of owners; moreover the castle was also involved and severely damaged in military conflicts.

In the last third of the 17th century the castle consisting of a later part (from around 1554) and an older one was given up; in 1800 the ruin was once again owned by the House of Sachsen-Meiningen. At that time it was ruled by Duke Georg I (1761 – 1803) whom his contemporaries considered to be “a wise ruler, a benevolent prince and father of his people; he was an active philanthropist, an admirer of service, a patron of scholars and artists, and a person of noble character.” Liebenstein Castle ruin is one of the traces he left, because he initiated its conservation and restoration in parts. He also had the tall arched bridge erected which connects the completely preserved outside walls of the three-storeyed residential apartments with the enclosing wall (the viewing platform was only added in 1932).

Was der Besucher heute entdeckt, ist nur ein Teil der einstmals weitläufigeren Burg. Die erste urkundliche Erwähnung stammt aus dem Jahr 1360. Damals war die fränkische Familie von Stein vom Landgrafen zu Thüringen mit „dem festen Haus Liebenstein“ belehnt worden. Der Kernbereich der Burg setzt sich aus dem ehemaligen Wohnturm und dem später überbauten Burghof zusammen. Teilweise haben sich die ehemaligen Zwingermauern erhalten. Die Anlage selbst erhebt sich auf einem 460 Meter hohen Berg über der Stadt Bad Liebenstein. Auf dem Weg dorthin durchqueren Besucher auch jenes Waldstück, in dem Martin Luther einst „entführt“ und zu seiner eigenen Sicherheit auf die Wartburg gebracht wurde.