Article Wittenberg – city tour

The first written mention of Wittenberg dates back to 1180. Its strategic location on the trade route along the Elbe contributed to its gradual development. In 1293 it received city rights and in the 15th century it became an important political and cultural centre under the rule of the Saxon electors. The founding of the university in 1502, where Martin Luther came to work in 1508, was crucial for its further development.
In 1938, the official name of the city was supplemented with the epithet „Lutherstadt“.

Since 1996, several buildings in the city have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name „Luther Monuments in Eisleben and Wittenberg“.
Wittenberg is literally interwoven with monuments commemorating Luther's life and work. The most important include the Luther House, the Castle Church, and the Town Church. Wittenberg was Luther's home and the main stage of his reformatory activities.

Luther House (Lutherhaus) was originally an Augustinian monastery where Luther lived and worked as a monk and later with his family for over 35 years. Today it is a museum that provides an engaging presentation of his life, work and times.

Adjacent to Luther's house is a former university college from the 16th century. It now houses collections relating to Luther's life.

The Castle Church (Schlosskirche) is one of the most important symbols of the Reformation. It is in the Castle Church that Luther publicly expressed his views, symbolically initiating a new direction in Christianity.
According to tradition, it was to the door of this church that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses criticizing indulgences on October 31, 1517, thus starting the Reformation.

The city church of St. Mary (Stadtkirche St. Marien), the oldest building in the city, was Luther's main place of work. Here he preached, celebrated Mass in German, and administered the sacraments according to the new concept.

The interior of the church still bears traces of the Reformation, including an altar by Lucas Cranach the Elder. The city church of St. Mary became the first parish church where sermons were preached in German and where the Reformed liturgy was served.

The house of Philipp Melanchthon (Melanchthonhaus), Luther's close collaborator and a prominent theologian of the Reformation, was built in 1536. Today it serves as a museum dedicated to his life and work.

Cranach Hof was purchased by the famous painter Lucas Cranach in 1518 and he set up his workshop and pharmacy there. His son then ran an art school there in the second half of the 16th century. Interestingly, the art school and pharmacy are still in operation today.

The center of the old town is the Market Square (Markt). The large square is home to townhouses, a Renaissance town hall, monuments to Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, and the market fountain.

The 16th-century Renaissance building served as the administration and trade center of this important city. In front of the building stand statues of Martin Luther and his collaborator Philipp Melanchthon.

A walk through the historic city center is an interesting journey through time, allowing you to glimpse one of the most dramatic periods in European history and appreciate the legacy of Martin Luther, whose ideas continue to influence the world today.

In 1556, a unique water supply system was put into operation in the city, which brought water to the city from a spring 2.7 km away through wooden pipes. This water supply system is maintained and is still in operation today.