Wartburg - a Composite

I had envisioned travelling to places where I could capture a particular period or epoch in time and be transported back to taste  the flavor of life as they lived it so long ago.  If they would but provide the setting, I would allow my rather vivid imagination to do the rest.  I was to learn another lesson on this trip.  Time does not stand still.  As Robert Baird wrote: " time flies on wings of lightning, we cannot call it back ."  It is rare to find any structure that fully represents what it once was, at any given moment in time.   The same is true in terms of architecture; each new occupant leaves their own imprint even when that imprint is an attempt to recapture the essence of the previous generation.  Their own interpretation is colored by influences of their generation.  


This is the case with the Wartburg Castle.  It is an amalgam of multiple periods, each shaped to a degree by the contributions of its occupants, designers, or the influence of legendary figures who visited Wartburg or made it their home.  It is described as Germany's most favored castle and judging by the number of visitors on this late November day, I can say that there were more  visitors than at others we have visited of late.  I am going to let some of the links tell the story. They do it very well.


This was our first trip to the former East Germany.  Although things have changed dramatically,  Alfie shared some interesting tidbits about every place we passed.   East Germany experienced a significant exodus during the years of occupation.  Now Germans are slowly moving back as property is still to be had there, a little cheaper.  Much of Germany's infrastructure capital has been directed to rebuilding  the East.  This has represented a significant financial burden on the economy.  However, German ingenuity, determination and pride are clearly evident in the arts, the orderly reconstruction and the devoted attention they pay to their cultural and linguistic heritage.  There is much to be admired here in this beautiful country. 

Four things that standout about our visit to Wartburg.  The fascinating story of St  Elizabeth. Martin Luther translated the New Testament from Greek to German at Wartburg, thus creating the foundation of the Protestant faith and the reformation and at the same time, standardizing the German language.   German students met here paving the way for German unity.  In early centuries, it became the gathering place, along with the town of Eisenach, for poets, playwrights,  artists and musicians.  It's rich cultural heritage was maintained throughout the centuries.  Architecturally, the castle underwent almost constant renovation while maintaining vestiges of each era, quite an accomplishment.  Although this might be best represented as a cultural collage, it has somehow tied them together into a powerful visually engaging way to depict an old castle.

I would like to spend some of my space relating a little about our guide.  The lady in this picture is named Alfie. She lives in our high rise in Frankfurt. She was born and raised near Wartburg in a town called Gotha, in former East Germany.  She provided a running dialogue of places, history and personal experiences that made for a memorable and most enjoyable day.  Her wry sense of humor, quick wit and German candor kept us amused the whole time.  She adopted me as 'her son' and kept referring to me as 'the psychiatrist who would probably her lock up before the day was over'.  She took us to her home town about 30 kilometres from Wartburg and described her experiences during the war as a girl and the subsequent Russian occupation.  She was honored by her home town a few years back.  We were not able to gather from her the full extent for which the town claims her as their own, but the impression is that she was a gifted opera singer or pianist and has performed and traveled extensively, consequently her English is very good.  We will find out more as we plan to engage her in some of our outings.