Home » Travel & Places

Luther's Wittenberg

Ranked #12,545 in Travel & Places, #307,493 overall

A little city with a huge heritage

Wittenberg, Germany would probably have become a bottom tier city among Germany's key sites had it not been for Martin Luther and the reformation of the Christian Church that began in its streets in 1517. The significant buildings of the Reformation remain in Wittenberg (although most have been altered somewhat by the ravages of time, fire, and war). Luther's home (a former Augustinian monastery), Melanchton's home, the university where they taught, the city church and the castle church still stand and offer a sense of life there during the 1500s.

Jesus told a parable about a mustard seed to illustrate how his kingdom would grow: great advances would blossom from the smallest, least likely sources. Jesus, of course, was describing his own mission (a seeming insignificant peasant from backwoods Nazareth becoming the world's Savior). But the story of the Lutheran Reformation, not to mention the entire Protestant Reformation, is another example of spiritual greatness from smallness.

The existence of Martin Luther might well have been lost to history were it not for the seeming insignificant act of his proposing a debate about indulgences on October 31, 1517 (the day he posted his 95 Theses) in the small university town of Wittenberg in northeastern Germany).

From that act sprang a Europe-wide rediscovery of God's grace in Christ, a renewed appreciation for the Bible as God's Word, a political union of much of Germany, a common German language, and an appreciation for the uniqueness and importance of every human being.

Wittenberg was the epicenter of the Lutheran Reformation because it was Luther's headquarters, his classroom, his pulpit, his author-desk.

Thankfully there remains in Wittenberg an air of appreciation, if not sacredness, regarding that turning point in history. The key sites have shunned in-your-face commercialism. They provide the pilgrim with a respite from the bustle of today's world and a space in which to reflect on life there - and the miracle of grace worked there - 500 years ago.

My Photos of Wittenberg, Germany

A Video Look at Wittenberg

Videos of varying quality and content about Wittenberg

Schlosskirche, Wittenberg: by leftturnat1511 | video info

1 rating | 2,043 views

curated content from YouTube

Travel to Wittenberg

Weather Underground: So what kind of a day is it in Wittenberg? Check out Wittenberg's current weather or weather forecast.
Germany Faces: You could win a one week trip for two to Germany. The travel package includes air and hotel accommodations. Enter now through November 30, 2007.

Book travel to Wittenberg

To travel to Wittenberg, start at Berlin, the closest major airport. From there you can rent a car or find a tour company. See how Orbitz can help you.

Luther's Wittenberg

A little city with a huge heritage

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

A View of Wittenberg

My Photos of Wittenberg, Germany

A Video Look at Wittenberg

Videos of varying quality and content about Wittenberg

Travel to Wittenberg

Book travel to Wittenberg

More online information on Wittenberg

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

Oopsey! Please login to Squidoo in order to add this module to your lens.

Great Stuff on Amazon

Reader Feedback

by 1080Allan

Explore related pages

Related Tags

Want our Newsletter?