Krayenburg
Encyclopedia
The Krayenburg was a castle situated on the Krayenberg
, having the townships of Tiefenort
and Merkers-Kieselbach
at its foot, and overlooking an extensive section of the Werratal.
The history of the Krayenburg castle began on 31 August 786 when Charlemagne
gifted the village Dorndorf
, inclusive all of its belongings, to Hersfeld Abbey
. The abbey built the Krayenburg to protect its newly gained property. In the sequel, the castle changed ownership repeatedly and had a heyday when owned by Graf Adam von Beichlingen (who died on 7 August 1538 and is buried in the church in Tiefenort
). The Thirty Years' War
started the destruction of the castle when Croatian troops (under Johann Ludwig Hektor von Isolani) captured the Krayenburg. However, it still played an important role in German history until the 19th century. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
visited the castle in 1782 (i.e., in the year when he was ennobled).
Today, visitors (if by car, then using the road via Tiefenort
) can enjoy carefully restored parts (ruins) of the originally very large castle (e.g., at its heyday larger than today's Wartburg Castle
) and a restaurant with hotel on its former site. A tower allows a wide view into the Werratal.
Krayenberg
The Krayenberg is a precipitous hill near Tiefenort, Germany.Since 500 BCE it was a rampart and served as a refugefor the central part of the Werratal. It became important for German history...
, having the townships of Tiefenort
Tiefenort
Tiefenort is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 5 km west of Bad Salzungen, and 8 km east of Vacha, Germany....
and Merkers-Kieselbach
Merkers-Kieselbach
Merkers-Kieselbach is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany.-Salt mine:The Merkers area of the municipality is famous for its salt mine, in which large amounts of Nazi gold, and many stolen works of art were discovered by the United States Army in 1945. General Dwight D...
at its foot, and overlooking an extensive section of the Werratal.
The history of the Krayenburg castle began on 31 August 786 when Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
gifted the village Dorndorf
Dorndorf
Dorndorf is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany....
, inclusive all of its belongings, to Hersfeld Abbey
Hersfeld Abbey
Hersfeld Abbey was an important Benedictine imperial abbey in the town of Bad Hersfeld in Hesse , Germany, at the confluence of the rivers Geisa, Haune and Fulda.-History:...
. The abbey built the Krayenburg to protect its newly gained property. In the sequel, the castle changed ownership repeatedly and had a heyday when owned by Graf Adam von Beichlingen (who died on 7 August 1538 and is buried in the church in Tiefenort
Tiefenort
Tiefenort is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 5 km west of Bad Salzungen, and 8 km east of Vacha, Germany....
). The Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
started the destruction of the castle when Croatian troops (under Johann Ludwig Hektor von Isolani) captured the Krayenburg. However, it still played an important role in German history until the 19th century. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
visited the castle in 1782 (i.e., in the year when he was ennobled).
Today, visitors (if by car, then using the road via Tiefenort
Tiefenort
Tiefenort is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 5 km west of Bad Salzungen, and 8 km east of Vacha, Germany....
) can enjoy carefully restored parts (ruins) of the originally very large castle (e.g., at its heyday larger than today's Wartburg Castle
Wartburg Castle
The Wartburg is a castle situated on a 1230-foot precipice to the southwest of, and overlooking the town of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia, Germany...
) and a restaurant with hotel on its former site. A tower allows a wide view into the Werratal.