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.
Location: Seitenroda
Inception: 1221
GPS coordinates: 50.80390,11.61220
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29
Thuringia contains a notable variety of historic sites, from medieval castles on wooded heights to baroque palaces in landscaped parks. The region preserves Romanesque monastic complexes such as Paulinzella, Renaissance residences including Wilhelmsburg in Schmalkalden, and significant collections like the Lindenau Museum in Altenburg. Beyond architectural landmarks, Thuringia offers geological features: the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes are considered the most colorful show mine in the world, the Barbarossa Cave near Rottleben is one of Europe's largest anhydrite caves, and the Morassina healing caves in Schmiedefeld have served therapeutic purposes since the 19th century. Cultural institutions range from technical museums such as the Ziegenrück hydroelectric power museum to the Apolda bell foundry museum and botanical installations like the Japanese garden in Bad Langensalza. Historic transportation systems including the Oberweissbach mountain railway, which has covered a vertical rise of 1,060 feet (323 meters) since 1923, complement the offerings. Natural monuments such as the Dragon Gorge near Eisenach, a narrow ravine with rock walls reaching 33 feet (10 meters) in height, and viewpoints like Leuchtenburg above the Saale valley combine natural and cultural experiences.
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Porzellanwelten Leuchtenburg
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