Introduction to Eisenach

This town lies on the northwestern slopes of the Thuringian Forest, at the confluence of the Nesse and Horsel rivers, 48km (30 miles) west of Erfurt. Eisenach, once a center of the East German auto industry, is not particularly charming, but it does have one of the region's finest castles and a few sights associated with Luther and Bach, who were both born here. Half-timbered houses ring its ancient market square.