Altenstein
Encyclopedia
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, is a palace upon a rocky mountain in Saxe-Meiningen
Saxe-Meiningen
The Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty, located in the southwest of the present-day German state of Thuringia....
, on the south-western slope of the Thuringian Forest
Thuringian Forest
The Thuringian Forest running northwest to southeast, forms a continuous stretch of ancient rounded mountains posing ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes in the southern reaches of the German state of Thuringia. It is about long and wide...
, not far from Eisenach
Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
. It was the summer residence of the Dukes of Meiningen
Meiningen
Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the southern part of the state of Thuringia and is the district seat of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra....
, and is surrounded by a 160 hectares (1.6 square kilometres) noble park
Landscape garden
The term landscape garden is often used to describe the English garden design style characteristic of the eighteenth century, that swept the Continent replacing the formal Renaissance garden and Garden à la française models. The work of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is particularly influential.The...
, which contains, among other objects of interest, a remarkable underground cavern, 500 ft. long, through which flows a large and rapid stream.
Boniface, the apostle of the Germans, lived and preached at Altenstein in 724 and built a chapel. The original castle at this place was mentioned in 774. The castle was destroyed many times, rebuilt and reconstructed, later not mainly for defensive use but as manor-house or palace. Parts of the former buildings can still be seen.
The current palace was built around 1750 and reconstructed twice. In 1982, it was destroyed by a fire and only the outer walls survived. Since 1984, it has been in the process of being rebuilt, but due to the situation during the German reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
, only the roof and some windows were fixed. The interior is under construction and is expected to be finished in 2015.
Nearby is the place where, in 1521, Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
was seized by the order of the elector Frederick the Wise, to be carried off to the Wartburg
Wartburg
The Wartburg is a castle overlooking the town of Eisenach, Germany.Wartburg may also refer to:* Wartburgkreis, a district in Germany named after the Wartburg* Wartburg , former East German brand of automobiles, manufactured in Eisenach...
. An old beech called "Luther's tree," which tradition connected with the reformer, was blown down in 1841, and a small monument now stands in its place.
Altenstein is a part of the city of Bad Liebenstein
Bad Liebenstein
Bad Liebenstein is the oldest spa town in Thuringia . It is situated 9 km east of Bad Salzungen, and 18 km south of Eisenach.A part of Bad Liebenstein is Altenstein, the summer residence of the dukes of Meiningen....
.