Wittenberg

Germany

Market square The Lutherhaus, home of Martin Luther

Wittenberg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The official name is Lutherstadt Wittenberg for its close connection of the town with Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation. It was here that in 1517, according to the legend, Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses on the portal of the Schlosskirche. While historians doubt this particular part of the tale, it is certain that Luther disseminated his Theses from Wittenberg. In 2017 the town celebrated the 500th anniversary of the event. Luther Memorials in Wittenberg are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other historical people with a close connection to Wittenberg are Luther's fellow reformer, Philipp Melanchthon, and the painter Lucas Cranach der Ältere.

Wittenberg should not be confused with the much smaller town of Wittenberge in northwestern Brandenburg.

  • Tourist Information, Schlossplatz 2, +49 3491 - 49 86 10. M-F 10:00-16:00, Sa 10:00-14:00.

Tourist Information, Schlossplatz 2, +49 3491 - 49 86 10. M-F 10:00-16:00, Sa 10:00-14:00.

  • Luther's Home at the Black Cloister, Collegienstraße 54, +49 3491-4203-0. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. The largest museum of the Protestant Reformation worldwide. Where else would you expect to find it? Admission: €5 (reduced ticket €3).

The Luther Home

  • Melanchthon House, Collegienstraße 60. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Renaissance building where Phillip Melanchton lived and worked. Admission €4.
  • Cranach Houses and Courtyards, Markt 4 and Schlossstraße 1. The painter Lucas Cranach the elder lived here, and ran a print shop. Adult €5, reduced €4.
  • Corpus Christi Chapel. Tiny chapel built in 1368, rebuilt in 1456.

Wittenberg town hall at market square

  • Museum für Stadtgeschichte, Schlossplatz 1d, +49 3491-43349-20. Tu–Su 09:00-17:00. Historical museum of the town.
  • Haus der Geschichte, Schlossstraße 6. M–F 10:00-18:00; Sa Su and holidays 11:00-18:00. This museum documents the life as it was during the socialist years after WW II until the 1980s.
  • Piesteritzer Werkssiedlung, Karl-Liebknecht-Platz 20. A working class housing project of 1916, restored to its original state in 2000. The biggest car-free neighbourhood in Germany.
  • Rathaus, Markt. Tu–Su 10:00-17:00. City hall built in 1535, rebuilt almost completely in 1926-28. Changing exhibitions. Memorials with statues of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon in the town square.

Castle Church View from Schlosskirche tower

  • Schlosskirche, Schlossplatz. Where Luther allegedly posted his 95 Theses. Martin Luther and his fellow reformer, Philipp Melanchthon are buried inside. Admission free, €3 for a guided tour, €2 for the tower.
  • University Leucorea, Collegienstraße 62. Historic university, opened in 1502, closed in 1817. Today used as a congress center for scientists.
  • Stadtkirche St. Marien, Jüdenstraße 36. The oldest building in the town, with an altar painted by Lucas Cranach. Stadtkirche (Citychurch)
  • Hundertwasserschule, Schillerstraße 22 a. An old school building converted to Hundertwasser's colourful style in 1999.
  • Archeological Exhibition, Alte Canzley, Schlossplatz 3. Tu–Su 08:00-18:00.

Luther's Home at the Black Cloister, Collegienstraße 54, +49 3491-4203-0. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. The largest museum of the Protestant Reformation worldwide. Where else would you expect to find it? Admission: €5 (reduced ticket €3).

Melanchthon House, Collegienstraße 60. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-18:00; Nov-Mar: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00. Renaissance building where Phillip Melanchton lived and worked. Admission €4.

Cranach Houses and Courtyards, Markt 4 and Schlossstraße 1. The painter Lucas Cranach the elder lived here, and ran a print shop. Adult €5, reduced €4.

Corpus Christi Chapel. Tiny chapel built in 1368, rebuilt in 1456.

Museum für Stadtgeschichte, Schlossplatz 1d, +49 3491-43349-20. Tu–Su 09:00-17:00. Historical museum of the town.

Haus der Geschichte, Schlossstraße 6. M–F 10:00-18:00; Sa Su and holidays 11:00-18:00. This museum documents the life as it was during the socialist years after WW II until the 1980s.

Piesteritzer Werkssiedlung, Karl-Liebknecht-Platz 20. A working class housing project of 1916, restored to its original state in 2000. The biggest car-free neighbourhood in Germany.

Rathaus, Markt. Tu–Su 10:00-17:00. City hall built in 1535, rebuilt almost completely in 1926-28. Changing exhibitions. Memorials with statues of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon in the town square.

Schlosskirche, Schlossplatz. Where Luther allegedly posted his 95 Theses. Martin Luther and his fellow reformer, Philipp Melanchthon are buried inside. Admission free, €3 for a guided tour, €2 for the tower.

University Leucorea, Collegienstraße 62. Historic university, opened in 1502, closed in 1817. Today used as a congress center for scientists.

Stadtkirche St. Marien, Jüdenstraße 36. The oldest building in the town, with an altar painted by Lucas Cranach.

Hundertwasserschule, Schillerstraße 22 a. An old school building converted to Hundertwasser's colourful style in 1999.

Archeological Exhibition, Alte Canzley, Schlossplatz 3. Tu–Su 08:00-18:00.

  • Organ-at-Three, Schlosskirche. May - Oct: Tu at 15:00. Organ music played on the historic Ladegast Organ of the Schlosskirche. Admission free; donations welcome.
  • Guided tours, Schlossplatz 2 (starting point: tourist information opposite of Schlosskirche. Daily 14:00 (duration 2 hours). May be cancelled if less than 10 participants show up. Adults €8, children €5.

Organ-at-Three, Schlosskirche. May - Oct: Tu at 15:00. Organ music played on the historic Ladegast Organ of the Schlosskirche. Admission free; donations welcome.

Guided tours, Schlossplatz 2 (starting point: tourist information opposite of Schlosskirche. Daily 14:00 (duration 2 hours). May be cancelled if less than 10 participants show up. Adults €8, children €5.

Kartoffelhaus Zum Schwarzen Bär, Schloßstraße 2, +49 3491 419868.

Athos Griechisches Restaurant, Am Alten Bahnhof 1, +49 3491 414080.

Il Castello, Schloßstraße 3, +49 3491 414547.

Tante Emma's Bier & Café Haus, Markt 9, +49 3491 414547. M 09:00-17:00, Tu-Su 09:00-24:00.

Brauhaus Wittenberg, Markt 6, +49 3491 433134.

Charles Bar, Markt 7, 06886, +49 170 5961274.

  • Berlin and Potsdam, about 100 km northeast
  • Dessau, 35 km west
  • Dessau-Wörlitzer Gartenreich (Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz), an English park landscape
  • Eisleben, 100 km southwest. The city where Luther was born and died and the other half of the Luther World Heritage Site.
  • Halle, about 90 km southwest
  • Leipzig, about 70 km south
  • Magdeburg, about 90 km west
  • Torgau, 50 km southeast (one hour by train), another place closely linked with Martin Luther and the Reformation