Die Wartburg Castle is located in Germany to the Southwest of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia. The castle was built in 1067 A.D. and was home to the Ludovinger family, princes of the Holy Roman Empire of Germany, for almost 200 years.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/frame_wn.htm   The castle has housed historical figures, been a part of several important historical movements, and survived one siege, despite having no natural water supply. There have been many renovations made on the castle, but the oldest parts are kept in good repair to this day.http://www.natureparktravel.com/wartburg/wartburg.htm  Since 1815, the grounds have housed a museum for tourists to visit.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/frame_wn.htm  

Die Wartburg was founded in 1067 by Count Ludwig der Springer after he escaped from prison. Springer chose the location for the castle because he loved the view from the ridge.http://www.carneycastle.com/Wartburg/index.htm The construction of the Palas, or Great Hall, began in 1115. It is one of the most well-preserved buildings north of the Alps.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/english/geschich/framedef.htm 

Most of the castle's growth took place between 1190 and 1217.http://www.carneycastle.com/Wartburg/index.htm From 1211 to 1228, Saint Elizabeth lived in the castle. The lords of Eisenach besieged the tower from 1306 to 1307.  In 1317 a fire struck the castle and the south tower and chapel were reconstructed. In 1521, Martin Luther lived there under protective custody after being exiled. During his stay at the castle, he translated the New Testament into German.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/frame_wn.htm 

In 1777 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stayed at Die Wartburg for five weeks. Five hundred students gathered at the castle in 1817 for Wartburgfest, which served as the first middle-class democratic public meeting in Germany. Between 1838 and 1890, Grand Duke Carl Alexander ordered the castle renovated to reflect the Golden Age. From 1952 to 1954, it was restored back to its original Romanesque style. In December of 1999, Die Wartburg was placed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/english/geschich/framedef.htm 

Guided tours of Die Wartburg are available during the months of April through October from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and during the months of November through March from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. English tours are only available from April through October at 1:30 p.m.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/frame_wn.htm 

For a guided tour of the Great Hall and self-tour of the museum it costs 8 Euros for adults, 7 Euros for physically disabled persons, and 5 Euros for students. Reservations can only be made for groups of 25 or more people. Groups of 25 or more adults pay 7.5 Euros each, groups of 25 or more students pay 4.5 Euros. A family card is 21 Euros. For just the museum, adults pay 4 Euros, the disabled pay 3.5 Euros, and students pay 2.5 Euros. Children under six are admitted free.http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de/frame_wn.htm