LUTHER HOUSE AND MELANCHTHON HOUSE IN WITTENBERG – UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

The Luther House in Wittenberg was the main place where Martin Luther lived and worked for almost 35 years. He lived here as a monk and, from 1525, as a husband and father. He made his “reformatory discovery” here, he lectured to students from all over Europe here, and he wrote his works that changed the world in this house. Today, the Luther House is the world’s largest museum relating to the history of the Reformation. Entitled „Martin Luther – his life, his work and his impact“, the new permanent exhibition focuses on aspects of his life that are unique to this town: Martin Luther in Wittenberg, the Luther family’s everyday life and the story of the impact made by this great re-former. Today’s visitors are drawn by the experience of visiting Luther’s actual home, as they have been for centuries. The Luther room has a special atmosphere; it is the very place where the reformer discussed his beliefs. Other impressive rooms are the refectory and the great auditorium where there is a magnificent historic exhibition. Some of the most striking items on permanent display are Luther’s pulpit, his monk’s habit, numerous paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder, such as the Ten Commandments Panel, the academic lectern in the great auditorium, an indulgences chest of the period, and, of course, Luther’s Bible and many priceless papers, manuscripts and pamphlets. Not far from the Luther House is Melanchthon’s house, built for him in 1536, that has survived the centuries in amazingly good condition. Melanchthon’s study, and the room where he died, the classroom and also the lovely herb garden and the wealth of items on display give a good insight into Philipp Melanchthon, humanist and reformer, Luther’s closest associate and influential “praeceptor germaniae” (Teacher of Germany).

Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora Melanchthon’s House Luther’s living room in his house in Wittenberg