Ritterburg Normannstein - Treffurt

Meeting at the Werra is a small town in Thuringia on the border to Hesse, and since 12/13. Jh. thronts Normannstein Castle on Treffurts Nordhang. Already in the Middle Ages, the castle was abandoned and faded – which was ultimately a lucky case, as it was not converted into the castle or the fortress like so many other castles, but remained in its Romanesque state. Normannstein is therefore particularly architectural and cultural. In late 19. A restaurant was opened in the castle, where the ruins became a popular destination. From 1975 he lived in the castle of the Treffurter Youth Club. Between 1995 and 2006 the castle was renovated, in 2008 the restaurant was reopened. The compact castle complex consists essentially of three towers and a large annex where the restaurant is located. There are also various remains of walls and defense trenches. The large square tower of the castle was a residential tower, the round tower and the smaller square tower were towers. Today, on several floors, the residential tower houses the modern exhibition “Werraburgen über Werrafurten”, which illustrates life in the Middle Ages. The top floor of the tower is a viewing platform that offers a very beautiful view of the Werratal. There are also two wedding rooms on the castle. Children can also walk under the castle on a castle playground with wooden playground and slide. If you arrive by car, you can park something above the castle on the historic cherry planting. It is also possible to reach the bus from Eisenach and from Eschwege. From the stop at the former railway station in the center of the village, hikers simply go uphill to the well-visible castle and can previously return the Romanesque Bonifatius church to the 13. Speaking of cherry planting, which is also a reason to visit meeting in spring or summer when the cherry trees flower or when the cherry are ripe. Very nice to find the area, but also in autumn. There you can drive the castle as the starting point or end point of a hike on the Adolfsburg ascent through the colorful forests above the Werratal. In part, this hiking trail leads along the Green Band, the former border strip. During my first visit to this area, squirrels hopped several times over the path that just collected hazelnuts. Every year in autumn there is also a dragon festival on the Lindenhecke, three or four kilometers from the castle. A visit to Treffurt should also take a walk through the old town with its many imposing works, some of which are still from the Renaissance.