How about a symphony of history? The Altenburg in Weimar resonates with stories from centuries past. This building now belongs to the Franz Liszt University of Music. But its story began long before its musical transformation.
Altenburg was first mentioned in 976. It became one of the first German cities in former Slavic territory. This area lay east of the Saale river. The medieval Ostsiedlung movement saw Germans settling here.
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa visited Altenburg often. He came between 1165 and 1188. Because of this link, the town is known as a Barbarossa town today.
From the 17th century, Altenburg was home to Ernestine duchies. The Saxe-Altenburg line lasted until 1918. That year marked the end of the monarchy in Germany.
Altenburg saw industry arrive early. This happened in the first half of the 19th century. It flourished until the Great Depression around 1930. East Germany brought economic struggles. After reunification in 1990, problems continued. Population fell. Unemployment and house vacancy rates rose.
But Altenburg has many attractions. There is the castle and the Lindenau-Museum. The historic city center is beautiful. Many buildings date from the early modern period. The Gr\u00fcnderzeit architecture is striking around the center. The card game Skat was invented in Altenburg in the 1810s. Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus lived and worked here too. He founded the famous Brockhaus Enzyklop\u00e4die.
Altenburg sits in the Osterland landscape. It is flat and fertile on the Plei\u00dfe river. The town lies in eastern Thuringia near Saxony.
The town’s past goes back to a deed from 976. It mentions the Bishop of Zeitz. Slavic castle remains are on the Schlo\u00dfberg. This shows Slavic roots. The town was likely the capital of Plisni shire. Henry I took it during the conquest of Meissen. Place names show Slavs mainly settled the area. This was Osterland.
Its position on the Via Imperii helped Altenburg thrive. This imperial road ran between Halle and Cheb in Bohemia. It boosted Altenburg’s salt trade.
The first castle stood under today’s St. Bartholom\u00e4i church. It was destroyed after a battle. It was rebuilt on the Schlo\u00dfberg. The 11th-century Mantelturm tower still stands. The castle became an imperial palatinate. It played a key role in German settlement. This was in the area between the Harz mountains and the Elbe.
The Hohenstaufen emperors supported Altenburg in the 12th century. They made it a market and mint town. Frederick Barbarossa turned Altenburg into Terra Plisnensis. He did this with other towns and royal forests. Altenburg and Chemnitz aimed to reduce Leipzig’s importance. Leipzig was held by the Margrave of Meissen. Frederick Barbarossa oversaw much building. The town grew quickly. A priory was founded. The parish church finished in 1172. The Augustinian monastery’s twin towers still stand. They are called Rote Spitzen. A town wall with five gates was built. Altenburg received its charter around 1200.
In 1455, the Altenburger Teilung divided Meissen lands. This division was between Elector Frederick II and Duke William. It led to war. In 1485, Altenburg went to Ernest. It became linked with Thuringia and the Ernestine Wettins.
The Reformation came early to Altenburg. George Spalatin and others introduced it in 1522. The Augustinian monastery was attacked during the Peasants’ War of 1525. Four rebels were executed. After the Schmalkaldic War, Altenburg briefly belonged to the Albertines. It returned to the Ernestines after a treaty.
From 1603 to 1672, Altenburg was the residence of an Ernestine line. After that, it went to Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. The Thirty Years’ War caused heavy damage. More than half the population died.
In 1826, Altenburg became the capital of Saxe-Altenburg. Industrialization began around 1830. The economy and population grew rapidly. The railway arrived in 1842. The Revolution of 1848 led to the abdication of Duke Joseph. The last duke abdicated in 1918. Saxe-Altenburg merged with Thuringia in 1920.
As you stand here, consider the many layers of Altenburg’s past. From Slavic roots to a modern music institution, Altenburg has transformed. Its walls have stories to tell. Its very stones sing with history.