Even today, visitors to the Lutheran town of Wittenberg can enjoy the atmosphere of Reformation and Renaissance. Strolling through the old town, where the stone witnesses of time are lined up next to each other like pearls, you will come across the Castle Church with its world famous Thesis door and the graves of Luther and Melanchthon, the courtyards of Master Cranach, the Town Church with its impressive Cranach altar, and the houses of Luther and Melanchthon. The old town of Wittenberg is a unique open-air museum which lets you experience important aspects of world history.
Wittenberg was first documented in 1183 as the home of the “Askanier” and later the “Wettiner”, and from the end of the 15th century it served as the princely residence of Frederick the Wise. His clever politics, the rapidly developing university founded in 1502, the influence of Luther, Melanchthon and other leading reformers, all led to this small town on the Elbe becoming the centre of spiritual life in Europe.
For centuries Wittenberg has retained an important role in religion, science and culture, and since 1938 it has presented itself as the official “Town of Luther”. Since 1996 the town of Dr. Martin Luther contains UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in the castle and municipal churches, with their historical significance for the course of the reformation, the Luther House and Melanchthon’s house. Its revived university and the “Leucorea” foundation are bringing the international atmosphere back to this small town that has a leading place in world history. Master Meinhardi would be very pleased.
Castle Church
Luther memorial
Market place with the town hall
and the spires of
St. Mary’s Church
Lutheran Rose
Katharina’s Gate
at Luther’s house