Leuchtenburg Castle, Medieval hill castle in Seitenroda, Germany
Leuchtenburg is a hill castle on a mountain cone near Seitenroda in Germany, sitting 395 meters (1295 feet) above sea level. From the walls and towers you can see the Saale Valley and the Thuringian Forest in the surrounding area.
The first written record dates to 1221, when the site served as an administrative seat for the Lords of Lobdeburg. During the Thirty Years War the place offered shelter to people from the region.
The name comes from the German word for shining, as the structure once helped travelers find their way from afar. Today the site serves as a porcelain museum, displaying collections from local production across several rooms.
The site is open daily from 9 to 18 between April and October, and from 10 to 17 from November through March. Access is via a path from the parking area that goes uphill and suggests wearing sturdy shoes.
A 20-meter-long (66-foot) Skywalk extends over the valley, and visitors often throw porcelain pieces down as a gesture for good fortune. This tradition connects the modern structure with the region's porcelain history.
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