Eisleben was first documented in 994 and was first recognised as a town in the 12th century. In the 15th and 16th centuries the town developed into one of the most important towns in the once powerful county of Mansfeld. This was due to its positioning at the crossroads of two major trade routes and, more importantly, due to the mining and smelting of copper slate in the area. It was at this time that Eisleben’s new town was built by a community of miners, with its St. Anne’s Church and the nearby Augustinian Hermit Monastery. The late Gothic carved altar, the precious murals, the painted coffered ceilings and the only illustrated bible made of stone in Europe are certainly worth a visit.
In the 2nd half of the 13th century a centre of mysticism was built in the East of the town, in Helfta, which was seen as the “crown” of all German convents, the Cistercian Convent. In the late autumn of 1999 the convent was brought to life again when an order of nuns decided to make it their home.
The countryside of Mansfeld is characterised by its mining past, but it is also clearly part of the Harz foothills. It is worth a visit to see the woods and hills, the recreation area around Lake Süss, and the old castles and monasteries.
The house where
Martin Luther was born
A view of the old town with the spires
of St. Andrew’s Church
The market place in Eisleben wi
th its memorial to Luther