The foundation of Wartburg castle had been laid about 1068 by the Thuringian count of Schauenburg, Louis the Springer, a relative of the Counts of Rieneck in Franconia.

Together with its larger sister castle Neuenburg in the present-day town of Freyburg, the Wartburg secures the extreme borders of his traditional territories.

According to tradition, the castle (Burg) got its name when its founder first laid eyes on the hill upon which the castle now sits; enchanted by the site, he is supposed to have exclaimed, "Warte, Berg—du sollst mir eine Burg tragen!"

("Wait, mountain—you shall bear a castle for me!").

It is a German play on words for mountain (Berg) and fortress (Burg).

In addition, Louis the Springer is said to have had clay from his lands transported to the top of the hill, which was not quite within his lands, so he might swear that the castle was built on his soil.

In fact, the name probably derives from German: Warte, a kind of watchtower as stated in the above source.

The castle is first mentioned during the Investiture Controversy in a 1080 deed, when Louis's henchmen attack a military contingent of King Henry IV of Germany.