This is the city associated with Martin Luther (1483-1546), leader of the German Reformation, and it attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Wittenberg's other famous son was humanist Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), a Protestant reformer and scholar, and a friend of Luther's and later of Calvin's. Luther and Melanchthon are honored with statues in front of the Rathaus. Wittenberg is a handsome enough city, but a stop here isn't a must unless you're particularly interested in Luther.
Wittenberg lies 68km (42 miles) northeast of Leipzig and 100km (62 miles) southwest of Berlin. Access by car is via the A9 Autobahn north and south, Route 187 east, and Highway 2 north and south. The Wittenberg Bahnhof is on the major Deutsche Bundesbahn rail line (Halle-Berlin), with frequent connections. It's an hour by train from Leipzig. For travel information, contact Wittenberg-Information, Schlossplatz 2 (tel. 03491/498610). November to February, it's open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. March to October, it's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 3pm, and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. In January and February, it's closed on weekends.
Both Luther and Melanchthon are buried in the Schlosskirche, Friedrichstrasse 1A (tel. 03491/402585), which dates from the 15th century but was rebuilt in the 19th. It was on the Schlosskirche doors that Luther nailed his "Ninety-Five Theses" in 1517. The bronze doors were added in 1858 and bear the Latin text of the theses. The church is open November to April, Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11:30am to 4pm; May to October, it's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11:30am to 5pm. Services are held Sunday at 10am and Wednesday at noon. There's a 30-minute organ concert every Tuesday at 2:30pm. Admission to the church and to its concerts is free; a brief audio guided tour, conducted in either German or English, costs 3€ ($3.90). For further information contact the tourist office at tel. 03491/498610.
Part of an Augustinian monastery in which Luther lived has been turned into the Lutherhalle Wittenberg, Collegienstrasse 54 (tel. 03491/42030). The parish church here, where Luther preached, dates from the 14th century. An oak tree marks the spot outside the Elster gate where Luther publicly burned his papal bull (edict) of excommunication in 1520. Hours are November to March Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, April to October daily 9am to 6pm. Admission costs 5€ ($6.50) for adults, 3€ ($3.90) for students and children ages 7 to 18, free for children 6 and under.
You can also visit the Stadtkirche, the "Mother Church of the Reformation," Judenstrasse 35 (tel. 03491/403201), where Luther did the majority of his preaching. Sections date from the 13th century, making it the oldest structure in Wittenberg. The altar is by Lucas Cranach the Elder, who was once bürgermeister of Wittenberg and a friend to Luther. It's open November to April Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 11:30am to 4pm; and May to October Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 11:30am to 5pm. Admission is free.
