DEUTSCHLAND | GERMANY |
Bundesland: Freistaat Bayern | Bavaria |
Regierungsbezirk: Oberfranken | |
Landkreis: Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge |
The Luisenburg is an extensive granite rock labyrinth in the northeastern slopes of the Kösseine massif (939 m) of the
southern Fichtelgebirge mountains. The first to describe the rock formations in a scientific manner was
the famous German poet and naturalist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. His visits in 1785 and 1820 convinced him that the formations were not
created by earthquakes, which had been the popular belief until then, but were the result of weathering through millions of years. Originally, the area
was called Losburg or Luxburg. It was renamed Luisenburg in 1805 on the occasion of a visit by the Prussian Royal couple,
King Friedrich Wilhelm III and Queen Luise. Since more than 300 years, the labyrinth also serves as a natural stage for theatre performances.
The first reported performance of a stage play at the Luisenburg took place in 1692.