Bertholdsburg Palace stands in a strategically favourable position at the end of a ridge along the once-important trade route from Erfurt to Nuremberg. It is the oldest of the surviving former residential castles in Thuringia. The castle was founded by the Counts of Henneberg, one of the oldest countly families in Franconia. In the early 13th century, the Hennebergs moved their main seat to Schleusingen. Berthold VII was granted the title of prince in 1310 and carried out extensive work to expand the castle. The castle was continuously extended and modernised right up until the 16th century. The once heavily fortified castle complex was converted into a Renaissance palace. Consequently, the four-winged complex comprises structures dating from different periods. With the extinction of the Henneberg family in 1583, the county passed to the Wettin dynasty, and in 1815 to Prussia. As a result, Bertholdsburg Castle lost its status as a residence. Today, the castle houses the Natural History Museum.
Natural History Museum
Tue–Fri 9 am–5 pm
Sat/Sun, public holidays 10 am–6 pm
Last admission 1 hour before closing time
Closed on 24 December
25, 26 and 31 December: 1 pm – 6 pm
1 January: 1 pm – 6 pm
Park/Garden Open all year round
Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Sat/Sun, public holidays 10 am – 6 pm
From Castle to Renaissance Palace
Whichever direction you approach Schleusingen from, one building cannot be missed – the striking Bertholdsburg Palace. The residence was established by the Counts of Henneberg, one of the oldest noble families of Franconia. Originally, their ancestral seat was on the Henneberg near the town of Meiningen. Around 1230, however, they moved their seat to Schleusingen, which lay conveniently on the important trade and military road from Nuremberg to Erfurt.
The construction of the new palace was probably made possible by a rich dowry, which came about through the marriage of Count Poppo VII to the daughter of the Landgrave of Hesse. The palace presumably owed its later name to Count Berthold VII (c. 1272–1340). He bore the gracious epithet “the Wise,” was an important political figure of his time, and served several kings and emperors as an adviser, as well as guardian to the son of Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria (c. 1282–1347).
Individual building elements of the 13th-century palace can still be seen today. Conversions and extensions in the 15th and 16th centuries ensured that the appearance of the complex was constantly changing. Although the noble family was already in decline at this time, the medieval fortification was expanded into a four-wing Renaissance Palace.
The mostly three-storey buildings were raised by an additional timber-framed upper storey, and the palace towers were heightened. Bertholdsburg Palace has largely retained this appearance to the present day. Of the original nine towers, however, only seven remain. Their names – such as Court Tower, Maiden’s Tower, Witches’ Tower, or Chapel Tower – refer to their former or occasional functions. The main tower is integrated into the museum’s operations as a viewing tower. After the death of the last Henneberg count in 1583, almost all possessions fell to the Wettins and later to Prussia, whereupon Schleusingen lost its status as a residence. As the Saxon and Prussian lords of the palace no longer resided in Schleusingen, they showed no interest in redesigning the complex, and thus the palace remained in its original Renaissance style.
Hercules in Large Format
The most significant surviving interiors are located on the first floor of the north wing. There, visitors will find, among other things, a hall with a floral stuccoed ceiling and a vaulted room with yellow and black secco (dry) paintings dating from around 1600. Large-format scenes depict the deeds of the ancient hero Hercules. It is one of the largest secular painting cycles in central Germany. Today, the palace houses the Natural History Museum, which presents three permanent exhibitions to its visitors – on regional history, geology, and natural history, including important collections of fossils and minerals.
He directed productions, designed costumes and stage sets, wrote treatises on director’s theatre, and restored the Meiningen Court Orchestra to new glory. Georg II, Duke of Saxe‑Meiningen, became famous as the “Theatre Duke” and entered the history books. Influenced by the palace romanticism of the 19th century, he realised his romantic vision of a fairy‑tale palace at Heldburg Castle. However, in a major fire in 1982, much of the precious interior was destroyed. Today, the German Palace Museum invites visitors to explore the collection.
Special exhibition on the life and work of George II
To mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Georg II of Saxe-Meiningen (1826–1914), the German Castle Museum is staging a special exhibition at Veste Heldburg on the life and work of the ‘Theatre Duke’. Discover how, from 1874 onwards, his visionary renovations gave the Veste its distinctive character that remains to this day – from the impressive architecture to the intricately designed interiors and gardens.
In his will, Duke Georg II of Saxe‑Meiningen (1826–1914) expressed the wish that “this palace should remain in its present condition even in the distant future and serve, for the benefit of the town of Heldburg and the surrounding area, as an attraction for visitors from afar (…)”. This wish very nearly came to nothing, for in 1982 a fire destroyed large parts of Heldburg Fortress. After extensive restoration work, the commanding hilltop complex once again presents itself in all its former glory - and now houses the German Palace Museum, where fascinating insights are offered into the function, development, and use of palaces in the German‑speaking world, illustrated by authentic artefacts. Architectural components and tools, as well as weapons and armour, furniture, and even toys, shed light on various aspects of palace life. The epithet “Franconian Beacon” is owed to its location in southern Thuringia, for until the 18th century the region was counted as part of what is today neighbouring Franconia. The palace itself served as an important watch post for Coburg Fortress, with which it had a direct line of sight. At night, the two palaces communicated using blazing fire baskets visible from afar.
A Renaissance Master Builder at Work
Heldburg Fortress took on much of its present appearance in the 16th and 19th centuries, though its history reaches much further back, probably to the 12th century. The Renaissance master builder Nikolaus Gromann had a decisive influence on the design of the complex. It is to his credit that the medieval palace was transformed into a representative ensemble of outstanding art‑historical significance. He did not simply demolish what had been handed down, but integrated it skilfully into the new building project. The Französischer Bau (French Wing), constructed from 1560 onwards, remains the architectural highlight of the palace today.
Heldburg Fortress, French Wing, German Castle Museum
A Romantic Dream of a Fairy‑tale Palace
Over time, however, Heldburg Fortress gradually lost its importance and, from 1783 onwards, fell increasingly into decay. Nearly 100 years later, life was to return to the stately complex. Georg II of Saxe‑Meiningen, remembered as the “Theatre Duke”, had acquired the palace - and subsequently transformed it into a mountain‑top retreat dedicated to the arts, his refuge and preferred residence. In 1891, the Duke’s wife sent her brother greetings from Heldburg Fortress, “where it is so wonderfully peaceful and quiet.” The Duke himself, inspired by the palace romanticism of the 19th century, initiated various changes to its appearance. He proceeded with remarkable care and expertise. The Hexenturm (Witch Tower) and, in particular, the Hausmannsturm (Gatehouse Tower) were heightened, creating a new silhouette that continues to shape the palace’s distant impression to this day. The duke paid particular attention to remodelling the Französischer Bau, where the Beletage, Great Hall, and private chambers were made more comfortable.
