The "Kyffhäuser"
The "Kyffhaeuser" the smallest, but the nicest low mountain range of our home is situated in the north of Thuringia. The about 60 km² mountain is protected under nature reserve since 1941. That means, here existed and exists in especially dimensions botanical and geological rarities to protect.

The "Kyffhäuser"- how the mountains are loving called in the vernacular, is a destination for hikes and tourists in the last (four) centuries. It is interesting for everybody, for Botanists, the Geologists, the historians and the aesthetics and even for the people who need a rest. Like an island it raised over the fruitful valley in the golden and the diamond meadow the middle of Germany.

The good loam and loess soils are reasons for the early settlement history of the "Kyffhäuser" area. Even the castle mountain, the second highest raisment of the mountains (457 m NN) is a proof of an early settlement since 800 v.Chr. The three steeps precipices are early discovered.

In the 10th century the "Kyffhäuser" area, the diamond meadow and the south Harz mountains belonged to the crown estate of the German king "Heinrich I" (919- 936), the founder of the German empire. For the strengthening of his crown, but even for the stops he raised platinates and castles. Within the sight of the "Kyffhäuser" probable developed, in the first part of the 10th century, the platinate "Tilleda" was raised in the northest mountain spur, a protect and flight castle. Document traditions about the "Kyffhäuser" castle exist since 1118, with the destroy of the castle.In the armed conflict between emreror Heinrich V and nobles from Thuringia and Saxony under the control of Lothar von Supplinburg the castle was destroyed till the foundation wall.

But soon the reconstruction began. The "Veste" experiened a complete building up and the extension during the administrative time of "Friedrich I Barbarossas (1152- 1190). The furthermore visible "Barbarossa" castle, one- time about 30 m, shows clearly the influence of the staufischer buildings art. The arangement is 600 m long and 60 m wide, and belongs to the greatest mediaeval castle of Germany.

The divide in high-, middle and undercastle is even today recognizeable.

A stay of "Barbarossa" at the platinate "Tilleda" is documented proofed in 1174. It is acceptable, that even he stayed in the "Reichsburg Kyffhausen", but it isn`t proofed.

The prime of the "Veste" lasted about hundred years. After the breakdown of the "Staufenreiches" in 1250 the owner very often changed. The ruin isn`t to stop now. As in 1407 the loards of "Schwarzburg" (later principality) owned the castle, the people called it "wüsten schloß kyffese".

The inhabitants of the surrounding settlements, clear of the stones to built stables and barnes.During the centuries the ruines were covered by earth, trees and brushwood more and more.

The middle of the castle was destroyed in the 17th and 18th century. From a great quarry the material for the produce of millstones was gained.

With the foundation of the German empire in 1871 the dream of a uniform nationalstate was fulfilled. So, Wilhelm I (1871- 1888) celebrated with his proclamation to the German emperor, as the nicest fulfillment with him the "Barbablanca". The "white beard on the redbeards throne".

In the admiration for Wilhelm I. , the former soldiers built a monumental memorial on the "Kyffhäuser". The application for the built of the memorial was asked by a member of the german warior union, Dr. Westphal not long ago after the death of of the emeror in march 1888. On the writing out for the competiton all the German artists could take part on it. The constructors put two requirements: the old Barbarossacastle, the landmark of the mountain must exist again, and the other requirement was, that on the memorial you must recocnize the traditional line Hohenstaufer- Hohenzollern. From 24 arrived outlines , the one from Bruno Schmmitz was realized.

In 1890, the construction works on the terraces , and on 10th May in 1892 the foundation stone was celebrated. Already on 18th June in 1896 in oresence of emreror Wilhelm II (1888- 1918), the grandchild of Wilhelm I, the memorial was inaugurated.