At the beginning of the 14th Century was the hilltop castle owned by the Counts of Henneberg-Schleusingen and served as the administrative and judicial seat after the regional power center on Struphe castle (now in ruins Straufhain nearby Streufdorf) was abandoned. 1374 was the Veste Heldburg to the Wettin. Johann Friedrich the Middle she left off in 1560 by his court architect Nikolaus Gromann in style of Renaissance (once be called “Neuer Bau”, today “Französischer Bau”) remove the ducal residence. To Gromanns important Renaissance buildings are “Französischer Bau” of the Veste Heldburg, “Französisches Schloss” (now the “Duchess Anna Amalia Library”) in Weimar and the City Hall of Altenburg..