Altenstein

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Altenstein castle

Schloss Altenstein, in Germany, is a palace upon a rocky mountain in Saxe-Meiningen, on the south-western slope of the Thuringian Forest, not far from Eisenach. It was the summer residence of the dukes of Meiningen, and is surrounded by a 160 ha (=1,6 square kilometre) noble park, which contains, among other objects of interest, a remarkable underground cavern, 500 ft. long, through which flows a large and rapid stream.

Boniface, the apostle of the Germans, lived and preached at Altenstein in 724 and build a chapel. A first Castle was mentioned at this place in 774. The castle was many times destroyed, rebuild an reconstructed, later not mainly for defensive use but as manor-house or palace. Parts of the former buildings can still bee seen.

The current palace was build around 1750 and twice reconstructed. In 1982 it was destroyed by a fire and only the outer walls survived. Since 1984 it is being rebuild, but due to the situation during the German reunification only the roof and some windows where fixed. In the moment the interior is in construction, and it is expected to be finished in 2010.

Near by is the place where, in 1521, Luther was seized, by the order of the elector Frederick the Wise, to be carried off to the Wartburg. An old beech called "Luther's tree," which tradition connected with the reformer Martin Luther, was blown down in 1841, and a small monument now stands in its place.

Altenstein is a part of the city Bad Liebenstein.