Built 1643 until 1654, Castle "Friedenstein" is the largest Early Baroque castle complex in Germany. The four-wing castle was built by Duke Ernest I the Pious with 2 characteristic towers. From the outside, the castle is primarily without decoration and looks quite plain – the Duke aimed to achieve clarity of form and function. However, the interior has many beautifully designed rooms and halls which have retained their original form and furnishings over the centuries.
The most outstanding part of the castle is the Ekhof Theatre, the oldest castle theatre in the world with original wooden stage machinery dating from the 17th century. It is still used during the Ekhof Festival in the summer months. Other items of interest which form the castle complex are the Castle Museum, the Museum of Regional History and Culture, the Museum of Nature, the archives and library, the casemates, the park and the very well-kept orangery garden. In the early morning, the road to the castle was closed and I was driving to the Museum of Nature nearby.
But on this location was very high noise and the next possible place for activity was a little marketplace about 300 m far from the castle. It is always a challange to work inside from a city with low power and mobile antenna....

73 & 11!
Gerd DL5AWI

Gerhard's DL5AWI photoreport


Click on any photo for a detailed view Built 1643 until 1654, Castle "Friedenstein" is the largest Early Baroque castle complex in Germany. The four-wing castle was built by Duke Ernest I the Pious with 2 characteristic towers. From the outside, the castle is primarily without decoration and looks quite plain – the Duke aimed to achieve clarity of form and function. However, the interior has many beautifully designed rooms and halls which have retained their original form and furnishings over the centuries. The most outstanding part of the castle is the Ekhof Theatre, the oldest castle theatre in the world with original wooden stage machinery dating from the 17th century. It is still used during the Ekhof Festival in the summer months. Other items of interest which form the castle complex are the Castle Museum, the Museum of Regional History and Culture, the Museum of Nature, the archives and library, the casemates, the park and the very well-kept orangery garden. In the early morning, the road to the castle was closed and I was driving to the Museum of Nature nearby. But on this location was very high noise and the next possible place for activity was a little marketplace about 300 m far from the castle. It is always a challange to work inside from a city with low power and mobile antenna.... 73 & 11! Gerd DL5AWI
Castle Friedenstein, Gotha (Thuringia)	Castle Friedenstein, Gotha (Thuringia)	Position of DR11COTA	Position of DR11COTA	Castle Friedenstein, WCA DL-01312 COTA THB-018

Gerhard's DL5AWI photoreport