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Martin Luther
Thinker, monk, rebel DZT/ Andrew Cowin
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is weapon was the Word, and he delivered it with conviction. Martin Luther, the Great Reformer, not only revolutionized the church but also the way people thought, giving them reassurance and conveying to them the comforting image of a merciful and forgiving God. A man who defined his time – and whose message is as relevant today as it was 500 years ago.
500 Years of Reformation
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n 2017 the Protestant Reformation marks half a millennium. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This single act was responsible for a worldwide movement whose legacy can still be felt today, especially in Germany. It was an event that changed the world — the Reformation did not only affect theology and the church but also had an impact on culture, science, business, politics, language and education. Germany is paying tribute to one of its greatest sons with an entire decade devoted to the church reformer. Through 2017, this great anniversary will be celebrated with exhibitions, festivals and concerts not just in Wittenberg and Eisleben but across the country. Follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther throughout Germany and embark on a fascinating journey to the great age of the Reformation. The 500th birthday of Lucas Cranach the Younger in 2015 is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in the arts to discover the works not only by this great artist but also by his father, Cranach the Elder. The Cranachs along with Albrecht Dürer are considered the most important painters during the Renaissance in Germany and their portraits of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora have iconic status. For more information and special events visit www.wege-zu-cranach.de and www.cranach2015.de.
The Heartland of Luther’s Legacy – A Journey of Discovery ore than 30 sites all over Germany allow you to discover Luther’s legacy. The most prominent Luther sites are in Eisleben, where Luther was born and where he died; in Wittenberg, where he lived for more than 35 years teaching and practicing his beliefs; and Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, where Luther translated the New Testament into German. The German National Tourist Office provides you with useful tools to plan your Luther trip to Germany. Visit www.germany.travel/luther for detailed information on all important Luther sites and events. You can also find information about eight Luther routes featuring different topics such as Luther’s legacy or Reformation and cultural heritage. Download the online brochure on the Reformation’s 500th anniversary, including the eight specifically designed routes in LutherCountry, at www.germany.travel/en/ebrochures. While in Germany, explore other famous sites and cities this beautiful country has to offer. Find travel inspiration at www.germany.travel.
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Luther Events & Exhibitions March 1 – September 30, 2015 Nuremberg The Medium of Paper – A Nuremberg Invention Exhibition, Museum for Industrial Culture June 2 – July 19, 2015 Eisenach The Cranach Studio's Portraits of Luther Exhibition
June 12 – 14, 2015 Wittenberg Luther’s Wedding Festival
August 21 – September 20, 2015 Grimma Lightning Strike – Luther and the Reformation Exhibition
June 19 – 21, 2015 Eisleben Luther City Festival
May 20 – September 30, 2017 Wittenberg Reformation World Exhibition
June 26 – November 1, 2015 Wittenberg Cranach’s World Exhibition
May 29, 2017 Wittenberg Festive Reformation Church Service
For more information on Luther events and exhibitions, please visit www.germany.travel/luther. DZT/Wartburg-Stiftung/Bildarchiv Monheim GmbH
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach was where Martin Luther translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German.
LutherCountry Feel the Spirit of the Reformation
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njoy an inspirational and purposeful journey filled with insights into the Protestant Reformation. A visit to LutherCountry is not only a powerful spiritual voyage but also a special way to honor and learn about Martin Luther. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to explore scenic LutherCountry and to follow in the footsteps of the
The baptism center in St. Peter’s Church, Lutherstadt Eisleben IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Klaus-Peter Voigt
Great Reformer, a transformational figure in the history of the Christian Church. LutherCountry is a stunning and very authentic region right in the heart of Germany, between Frankfurt (Main), Munich and Berlin. It offers enchanting towns with half-timbered houses straight out of a children's storybook. History
comes alive in castles and elegant palaces surrounded by lush forest and open countryside. LutherCountry will move you spiritually and emotionally with endless charm, beauty and compassion. Apart from being a spiritual destination, LutherCountry is home to many of Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also where you can sample traditional culinary delights such as the renowned Thuringian bratwurst and KÜstritzer dark beer, which even Martin Luther was a great fan of.
LutherCountry invites you to join in the celebrations in the build-up to 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Regardless of when you visit, there will always be something special waiting for you in LutherCountry.
A Luther Bible in the library of the Francke Foundations in Halle (Saale). IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Harald Krieg
DZT/Jochen Keute
Points of interest in the market square of Lutherstadt Wittenberg are the town hall, Melanchthon and Luther monuments, and town church.
In Martin Luther’s Footsteps...
Where to Go, What to See
IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Jörg Gläscher
Where It All Began – Lutherstadt Wittenberg
The Castle Church door memorializing Luther’s 95 Theses
LUTHERSTADT WITTENBERG is known as the birthplace of the Reformation. It was here on October 31, 1517 that Luther sparked the Reformation when he nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door. Today, a massive bronze memorial door marks the spot that changed the course of history. Pay your respects to the Great Reformer at this door or at his grave inside the church, beneath the pulpit. Another significant church in Wittenberg is the City Church, regarded as the “Mother Church of the Reformation”. Martin Luther preached, was married and baptized his six children here. Be sure to attend one of the English services that takes place weekly from Wednesday to Saturday between May and October in either of the two main churches. The Luther House, a former Augustinian monastery and Luther's home for more than 35 years, is now the world’s largest Reformation museum. Luther's living room is a real highlight with his original desk and 500-year-old period furnishings on display. The remarkable Ten Commandments painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Luther Bible from 1534 and a letter of indulgence can also be found here. At the Melanchthon House learn about Martin Luther's formidable "right-hand man" in the permanent exhibition Philipp Melanchthon: Life – Work – Impact.
IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Jörg Gläscher
The Circle of Life – Lutherstadt Eisleben Martin Luther's birthplace, LUTHERSTADT EISLEBEN, claims to have introduced the world's very first “heritage tourism” site with the biographical exhibition Where I Come From – Martin Luther and Eisleben. The font where Luther was baptized in the City Church of St. Peter and St. Paul still remains, and the new Luther Font was built as a tribute to the Great Reformer. Also, the Church of St. Anne was consecrated by Martin Luther and was the first Protestant church to be built in the region. The pulpit from which he preached is still used today for major religious occasions. Luther’s Death House, a late-Gothic reconstruction of the house in which he died, also can be visited. The new exhibition includes furniture, documents and signatures, as well as the original cloth that covered Luther's coffin. Luther's Parents' Home in nearby MANSFELD-LUTHERSTADT sheds light on the history of Luther's childhood and the Luther family.
The historic market square, Lutherstadt Eisleben
Eisenach-Wartburg Touristik GmbH/A. Nestler
In the Beginning was the Word – Eisenach
The half-timbered Luther House in Eisenach
EISENACH invites you to wander through picturesque streets to the historic market square, which is lined with half-timbered houses. The city is the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, a passionate Lutheran, who was baptized in St. George Church, where Luther sang in the church choir as a boy and later preached. In the Bach House short concerts featuring antique musical instruments take place every hour on the hour. The historic part of the museum is dedicated to Bach’s life and family, while the modern part focuses on his work and music with multimedia experiences. In fall 2015, the renovated and extended half-timbered Luther House from the 14th century will re-open as a museum, with the new permanent exhibition Luther and the Bible as its focal point. Visitors can also see the two rooms where Martin Luther lived with the Cotta family as a child or simply relax over coffee at the Bible Cafe. Nestled among the hilltops of Eisenach is Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German. Making the Word accessible to the common man was his greatest cultural achievement. At the impressive castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, step into the Luther Cell, where Martin Luther stayed and, whilst hiding, completed this great work in only 10 weeks.
TTG/T. Babovic
Feel the Thunder – Erfurt The very spot that God's voice "thundereth marvelously" and where Luther faced his own mortality and devoted his life to God after being caught in a thunderstorm is in STOTTERNHEIM, near Erfurt. Visit the Luther Stone, a memorial to the momentous event that changed Luther’s life forever. Erfurt, undeniably one of Germany's most beautiful cities, was Luther's spiritual home. It is where he studied, became a monk and was later ordained as a priest. Luther served as a monk at the Augustinian Monastery, now a pilgrimage center. In the monastery church you will find the stained-glass windows with the famous Luther Rose, the earliest symbol of Lutheran beliefs. The monastery offers 67 guest rooms and apartments for long- and short-term stays in a serene atmosphere. It is also a modern conference center and museum, with a breathtaking historic library. Stop by the Luther Cell during your stay. Follow the “Luther Mile” through Erfurt and visit St. Mary's Cathedral, where Luther was ordained. Next door is St. Severi Church. Standing together on top of a hill, the photogenic cathedrals, connected by steps, serve as a stage for the annual Open-Air Cathedral Steps Festival and Christmas Market. Merchants' Bridge, arching across the Gera River, is Europe's finest example of a medieval inhabited bridge and dates back to 1325.
Luther was a monk at the Augustinian Monastery.
LutherCountry’s Hidden Treasures The splendors of LutherCountry are countless. Here are more tour-worthy sites—additional reasons to put Luther Country at the top of your travel list. There is no better way to experience authenticity than going off the beaten
Germany’s LutherCountry
path. Follow the LUTHERWEG (LUTHER TRAIL), a route that connects many Luther-related locations. Visit SCHMALKALDEN, the half-timbered town with the Luther House and where Luther gave sermons at St. George’s Church and published the Schmalkaldic Articles of faith. LutherCountry is also home to romantic medieval cities like QUEDLINBURG. In MAGDEBURG, prominent during the Reformation, see enormous Magdeburg Cathedral, the first in Germany to be built in the Gothic style. Martin Luther, together with Bach, Goethe, Liszt, Gropius and Lucas Cranach the Elder and Younger, was a man who appreciated the fine arts. Discover the city of WEIMAR, where all of these great men left their mark. Luther had a tremendous influence on one artist in particular, Lucas Cranach the Elder. Cranach was a strong supporter of Luther, and several of his most important works are on display in the Anhalt Picture Gallery in DESSAU. Cranach changed the way religious paintings were composed, conveying Lutheran ideas through his art. In HALLE (SAALE), step inside the Market Church and see the original cast of Luther’s death mask. The Francke
Foundations is the orphanage where Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, known as the Father of the American Lutheran Church, taught before traveling to Pennsylvania.
At Your Service – Planning Tips Let us help you organize an enjoyable, faith-based tour in LutherCountry. Simply check our website for brochures and other helpful information, or browse the list of experienced tour operators. Itineraries can be customized Ideas on where to for any group size, go and what to do in this brochure including schools, churches, non-profit organizations, orchestras and choirs. The tour operator list also includes local agents in Germany who can plan and arrange a personalized itinerary. There already are a number of tour packages available, but they can be fine-tuned to suit your specific needs.
For more information on LutherCountry, please visit: www.visit-luther.com www.facebook.com/LutherCountry www.pinterest.com/luthercountry
SAMPLE ITINERARY
In the Footsteps of Martin Luther (9 days) After arrival in Frankfurt, travel to Dresden and visit Old Town Square, the palace and Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). Take time to explore this lovely town on the banks of the River Elbe.
Afterwards explore the family home on the grounds, today a museum housing his writings and other artifacts from the Reformation. Then visit the Castle Church, where the 95 Theses were posted, launching the Reformation.
Overnight in Dresden
Overnight in Wittenberg
DAY 3
DAY 5
DAY 1 & 2
Frankfurt – Dresden
Dresden – Leipzig
Discover the city’s musical heritage at St. Thomas Church, whose boys’ choir has been performing for over 800 years. Martin Luther preached here, and famed composer Johann Sebastian Bach was its choir director. Enjoy strolling through the medieval market square. Overnight in Leipzig
DAY 4 Leipzig – Eisleben – Wittenberg In Eisleben, the site of Luther’s birth and death, delve into his life by visiting the museum inside the home where he was born; St. Peter and Paul Church, where he was baptized; and St. Andrews Church, where he delivered his final sermons. Continue to Wittenberg and explore the former Wittenberg University, where Luther served as a professor of theology.
TTG/T. Babovic
Frankfurt – Dresden – Leipzig – Eisleben – Wittenberg – Erfurt – Eisenach – Coburg – Nuremberg – Munich
Wittenberg – Erfurt
Explore St. Mary’s Church, where Luther preached, was married and where his children were baptized. Discover the Renaissance-style home of Philipp Melanchthon, Luther’s scholarly confidant who aided him in communicating his revolutionary theology. In Erfurt, you will be able to taste the famous grilled sausage before passing by the Merchants’ Bridge with its 62 half-timbered houses with small shops on the way to the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther lived as a monk from 1505 to 1512. Overnight in Erfurt
DAY 6 Erfurt – Wartburg Castle – Eisenach – Erfurt At Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the Bible, step into the room where he spent many months in hiding. In the town of Eisenach enjoy a musical performance played on instruments at the Bach Haus dating back to Bach’s time. Visit the Lutherhaus, where Luther resided as a child, and St. George Church, where he was a choir boy. Overnight in Erfurt
Historic churches in Erfurt (above) and the Elbe River city of Dresden (below) are itinerary highlights.
DAY 7
Erfurt – Coburg – Nuremberg
In Coburg, tour the Veste Coburg, the fortress where Luther took refuge and lived during the Augsburg Confession. Continue south to Nuremberg, a city that figures prominently in Reformation and World War II history. It also boasts the most famous Christmas market in Germany and churches with masterpieces by artists like Albrecht Dürer and Tilman Riemenschneider. Overnight in Nuremberg
DAY 8 & 9
Nuremberg – Munich
Travel to Munich and feel the energy of this lively Bavarian city during a tour that highlights Olympic Park, the Glockenspiel and Marienplatz, a beautiful square surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafes. Overnight in Munich For more information, please contact the German National Tourist Office: germanyinfo@germany.travel For other itineraries, please visit www.touritineraries.com DZT/Dietmar Scherf