Luther 2017 - Religious Travel Planning Guide
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Transcript of Luther 2017 - Religious Travel Planning Guide
Martin LutherThinker, monk, rebelH
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.
More 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.
The Heartland of Luther’s Legacy –A Journey of Discovery
500 Years of Reformation
In 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 world-
wide 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.
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Luther Events & Exhibitions
March 1 – September 30, 2015Nuremberg
The Medium of Paper – A Nuremberg
Invention Exhibition, Museum for
Industrial Culture
June 2 – July 19, 2015Eisenach
The Cranach Studio's Portraits of
Luther Exhibition
June 12 – 14, 2015Wittenberg
Luther’s Wedding Festival
June 19 – 21, 2015
Eisleben
Luther City Festival
June 26 – November 1, 2015
Wittenberg
Cranach’s World Exhibition
August 21 – September 20, 2015
GrimmaLightning Strike – Luther and the Reformation Exhibition
May 20 – September 30, 2017
Wittenberg
Reformation World Exhibition
May 29, 2017
Wittenberg
Festive Reformation Church Service
Wartburg Castle in Eisenach was where Martin Luther translated
the New Testament from ancient Greek into German.
DZT/Wartburg-Stiftung/Bildarchiv Monheim GmbH
For more information on Luther events and exhibitions, please visit www.germany.travel/luther.
Enjoy 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
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
LutherCountryFeel the Spirit of the Reformation
The baptism center in St. Peter’sChurch, Lutherstadt Eisleben
IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Klaus-Peter Voigt
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 Köstritzer
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).
Points of interest in the market square of Lutherstadt
Wittenberg are the town hall, Melanchthon and
Luther monuments, and town church.
IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Harald Krieg
DZT/Jochen Keute
The Castle Church door memorializing Luther’s 95 Theses
Where It All Began – Lutherstadt WittenbergLUTHERSTADT 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.
The Circle of Life – Lutherstadt EislebenMartin 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.
In the Beginning was the Word – EisenachEISENACH 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.
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The historic market square, Lutherstadt Eisleben
The half-timbered Luther House in Eisenach
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In Martin Luther’s Footsteps...Where to Go, What to See
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
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.
Feel the Thunder – ErfurtThe 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.
At Your Service – Planning TipsLet 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
for any group size,
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.
Germany’s LutherCountry
Luther was a monk at the Augustinian Monastery.
TTG
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Ideas on where to go and what to do in
this brochure
For more information on LutherCountry, please visit:www.visit-luther.com www.facebook.com/LutherCountry www.pinterest.com/luthercountry
DAY 1 & 2 Frankfurt – DresdenAfter 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.
Overnight in Dresden
DAY 3 Dresden – LeipzigDiscover 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 4Leipzig – Eisleben – WittenbergIn 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.
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 Wittenberg
DAY 5 Wittenberg – ErfurtExplore 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 – ErfurtAt 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
DAY 7 Erfurt – Coburg – NurembergIn 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 – MunichTravel 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:
For other itineraries, please visit www.touritineraries.com
SAMPLE ITINERARY
In the Footsteps of Martin Luther (9 days)
Frankfurt – Dresden – Leipzig – Eisleben – Wittenberg – Erfurt – Eisenach – Coburg – Nuremberg – Munich
Historic churches in Erfurt (above) and the Elbe Rivercity of Dresden (below) are itinerary highlights.
DZT/Dietmar Scherf
TTG
/T. B
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