A look at a piece of Thuringian history

Just outside the village of Buchfart is the the rock castle. Situated on the shell limestone cliffs of the Ilm, the castle is the only cave castle in Thuringia. In central Germany and beyond, it is a unique testimony to a high medieval fortification and is of particular cultural and historical importance.

The chambers and hollows that are still visible today were probably driven into the mountain from the 10th century onwards. Around the 12th century, 12 chambers of different sizes were hewn into the steep rock face in a row over a length of around 110 m and at a height of 40 meters above the Ilm. The chambers were connected by a hillside wall in the Romanesque architectural style. Some remains of the wall and a round-arched door are still visible today.

Historical archaeological finds indicate that the site was inhabited even earlier. Significant archaeological finds include a golden fibula and an Osiris head from the Egyptian Empire. They can be admired in the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Jena.

The castle probably once served as a refuge. However, the fortified caves may also have been used as places of refuge when Saxons and Franks jointly defeated the Thuringian kingdom in 531.

From the 15th century onwards, the castle systematically fell into disrepair - the weather had taken its toll on this unique building. In the meantime, nature has destroyed a significant part of the castle. The former access situation and the outer walls can no longer be reconstructed. For safety reasons, access is now closed and the impressive size of the rock castle can only be seen from a distance. 

Shrouded in legend 

Many legends surround the rock castle, such as the legend of Trutina, the wonder woman of the mountain. She is said to be beautiful. When spring arrives, she rides down to the valley on a white stag with golden antlers, surrounded and followed by delicate aerial figures. In the fall, when the leaves fall, she returns to the castle. Anyone who sees her is drawn to her, drawn up to the castle and into the rocks. At the entrance to the castle, a faithful Eckard warns anyone who follows her, but her magic is too great. No one has ever returned after the castle gates have closed.