How many of you out there “do your homework” before traveling? People don’t just pickup and say, “Hey, I’m going to Wettin-Löbejün in Saxony-Anhalt. See ya!”
I’m no different, and I was excited to see a city along the epic Fürstenstraße der Wettiner, or Princes of Wettin Route.
The center of this route is the Wettin Castle, along the banks of the Saale River. What got my fur up was the fact that someone called this place “an overly built castle.”
What?
First off, this is a castle (sorry, it’s actually two castles); and it’s supposed to be a bit over the top. It was built over a thousand years ago, and has walls 2-meters thick. And its Knights Templar Chapel helps in making this castle so “overly built”, even though the entire complex is now a school. Lucky pupils.
Secondly, the castle was the center of an 800-year old ruling family (that’s still got descendents in most of Europe’s royal families today). Hell, if you got a scenic route named after you — your castle can be as overly built as you want.
OK, enough ranting. I’m missing out seeing the Marienkirche in the village of Rothenburg. Which also, BTW, has prehistoric burial mounds from the Bronze Age, and castle remains. You can do it all by bike, the Saale Cycle Route runs right along.
From the look of things here in Wettin-Löbejün, you wouldn’t know that the area was heavily bombed during World War II because of its oil factories. In the Cemetery Park, there’s an obelisk for seven people who lost their lives at the hands of the Third Reich.
It’s nice the 12th century St. Nicholas Church (it’s a true Romanesque church) still stands, but after the Reformation it became a Protestant Church.
Much of Wettin-Löbejün’s history (like its Wettin Family & its role in the Reformation) can be learned at the Heritage Museum. Or, just meander around all the half-timbered houses you’ll find in the town’s 11 districts.
I think Wettin-Löbejün is fantastic… even though its castle is a bit “overly built.” ;-)
