January 3 we drove out to Eisenach and visited the Bachhaus, the childhood home of Johann Sebastian Bach. We arrived just in time to hear the museum curator play some of Bach’s harpsichords and organs. It was really interesting even though most of his presentation was in German, he also spoke some English along the way. After the performance, we quickly worked our way through the museum.
Raine with Bach’s viola.
After grabbing lunch at a bakery on the square, we drove up to the Wartburg castle. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was originally built in the Middle Ages but has been added to throughout the years. It is the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German.
Overlooking Eisenach
The only way in or out was through the drawbridge.
The doves had their own little built-in nesting boxes.
Mom and Raine waiting for the tour to start.
The tour started in the oldest part of the castle, built in the Romanesque style between 1157 and 1170.
The Elisabethkemenate (St. Elisabeth’s fireplace chamber) received its Byzantine-style mosaic in 1902 to 1906. This room was incredible. The entire thing was covered in colorful mosaics.
A short video of the amazing mosaics.
Daddy, Uncle Jake, Rose, Grandma, Raine, and Grandpa listening to our tour guide.
The castle was full of fine craftsmanship.
Schwind’s Sängerkrieg fresco in the Sängersaal (1854).
The Festsaal (Festival Hall) on the top floor of the Romanesque Palas, it runs the entire length and width of the building. The room was the site of the Wartburg Festival of 1817, when members of university fraternities organized what has been called the first democratic meeting on German ground.
Lutherstube – Martin Luther stayed in this room (and the sleeping room behind it) for 300 days in 1521-1522.
Luther Bible
Carter found a suit of armor that was just his size
Carter and Daddy in the halway leading to Lutherstube
We stopped in Eisenach for dinner. Raine LOVES schnitzel!
The streets were still Christmasy.
