Exhibition: ‘Learning to See – In Search of Clues in the Upper Castle’

This multimedia exhibition offers an insight into some 900 years of castle and palace history at Oberschloss Kranichfeld and takes visitors on a journey of discovery through the historic site.

900 years of castle history

The exhibition, held both indoors and outdoors on the estate, explores the castle’s history in all its facets, from its construction as a medieval fortress right up to the recent past. It also addresses the castle’s use as a satellite camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp during the Nazi era and the preservation of the complex through civic engagement in the late GDR period.

Permanent exhibition with an outdoor tour

The exhibition focuses on the Palas. Across several rooms, visitors are guided through the history of the complex – from its architectural history spanning the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period, through the castle fire of 1934, its subsequent use as a satellite camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, right up to the complex’s rescue by volunteers in the final years of the GDR. Throughout, attention is repeatedly drawn to the traces of time that can still be seen on the building itself.

Outdoors, the tour continues with information boards and signposts. A multimedia guide also offers interactive elements and further insights through videos and interviews. A children’s treasure hunt keeps the little ones on their toes and guides them playfully through the grounds.

Multimedia guide

To complement the exhibition, a multimedia guide takes visitors around the outdoor grounds and offers further opportunities to explore the history of the castle and palace through images, films and games. In-depth sections within the exhibition provide further information.

The Multimedia Guide app is available at guide.thueringerschloesser.de; it works like a website and does not need to be downloaded. The free app, which includes handy visitor information, is available in German and English.