Did you know? Great-grandfather Lutherstadt Wittenberg is of the mobile phone not just known for Luther’s In 1833, Wilhelm Weber, in collaboration with Carl Friedrich Gauß, designed and built the rst electromagnetic telegraph. posting of his 95 theses on Weber House, where this famous son of the town was born, is the church door in 1517, but located at Schlossstraße 10. also for a few astonishing and some curious events. 973 e rst reference to the present-day Silent night, territory of Lutherstadt Wittenberg. holy night Berlin or Leipzig? Thanks to the express ICE train It is said that Martin Luther was the inspiration behind the link, you can enjoy a relax- gure of the Holy Christ, with the Christ Child later sup- ing breakfast in the capital, planting Catholic St Nicholas 30 as the deliverer of presents at have lunch in Lutherstadt Christmas. minutes Wittenberg and dance the night away in Leipzig. Do you speak The Luther Oak Luther? e Luther Oak stands at the southern end of Collegienstraße Luther’s expressions and quotes are deeply rooted in our language. Many of at the spot where Martin Luther them are quite natural to us today and we are unaware that they were orig- burned the papal bull in 1520. inally spoken by Luther: ‘Bite the bullet’, ‘On one’s own initiative’, ‘Move mountains’, ‘Pride comes before a fall’, ‘Ants in the pants’, ‘One in the eye’, ‘Fits like a glove’, etc. Scarcely anyone has ever succeeded so well at express- ing the core of human characteristics and observations about coexistence as precisely as Martin Luther. – 2 – LEGAL NOTICE PUBLISHER Lutherstadt Wittenberg Marketing GmbH MANAGING DIRECTOR Johannes Winkelmann PROJECT MANAGER Franka List EDITORIAL TEAM Lutherstadt Wittenberg Marketing GmbH in conjunction with kleiner und bold GmbH, Berlin COORDINATION Lutherstadt Wittenberg Marketing GmbH, Franka List DESIGN kleiner und bold GmbH, Berlin PRINTER MUNDSCHENK Druck+Medien, Lutherstadt Wittenberg PHOTO CREDITS Unless otherwise stated, the rights to all photographs reproduced in this brochure are held by Lutherstadt Wittenberg Marketing GmbH (photographers: Johannes Winkelmann, Corinna Kroll, Jan P. Pajak, Jörg P. Pajak). Double-page/aerial photograph of Lutherstadt Wittenberg © Steffen Mainka, p. 4: Green light for industry © SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH, p. 6: Arsenal © Arsenal p. 9: Bath tub © Frank Sommer, Andreas Siewert, p. 11: Graffiti © Achim Kuhn, p. 13: Theses door at the Castle Church © Investitions- und Marketinggesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH, p. 17: Lecture hall at Luther House and study at Melanchthon House © Stiftung Luthergedenkstätten in Sachsen Anhalt, Anne Hasselbach, p. 17: Busts of Luther and Melanchthon © TourismusRegion Anhalt-Dessau-Wittenberg e. V., Sarah Filz, pp. 22–23: Interior photo © Shutterstock, p. 28: Aerial photo © SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH, p. 30: Tomato © Shutterstock, p. 31: Magnetic crane traverse © Krafotec Pannier GmbH Wittenberg, p. 31: Tank trailer © Feldbinder Spezialfahrzeugwerke GmbH, p. 33: Masters’ Houses © Christoph Petras Lutherstadt Wittenberg from above Did you know? Great-grandfather Lutherstadt Wittenberg is of the mobile phone 1610 Beer boots not just known for Luther’s In 1833, Wilhelm Weber, in collaboration with Carl Friedrich Michael Stifel, a minister and friend of Luther’s, proclaimed that Gauß, designed and built the first electromagnetic telegraph. A medical first the world would end on 19 October 1533. Clearly, this event is a posting of his 95 theses on Weber House, where this famous son of the town was born, is little overdue. A satirical song came about: “Stifel must die, he is located at Schlossstraße 10. On 21 April 1610, barber Jeremias still so young” — to the boozy accompaniment of which developed the church door in 1517, but Trautmann performed the first the custom of drinking beer from boots (‘Stiefel’ is German for documented Caesarian section in ‘boot’). also for a few astonishing history. and some curious events. 973 The first reference to the present-day The poisoner’s Silent night, territory of Lutherstadt Wittenberg. hand The poisoner Susanne Zimmermann killed two husbands and Four three children, along with a sister-in-law and nursemaid. Even holy today, her mummified hand continues to scare young and old alike at the Municipal Collections (Staedtische Sammlungen). in a row night Berlin or Leipzig? Thanks to the express ICE train It is said that Martin Luther Four UNESCO World was the inspiration behind the link, you can enjoy a relax- figure of the Holy Christ, with the Christ Child later sup- ing breakfast in the capital, Heritage Sites on planting Catholic St Nicholas 30 as the deliverer of presents at have lunch in Lutherstadt Christmas. 1938 one street — only in minutes Wittenberg and dance the night away in Leipzig. The prefix Lutherstadt was officially added to the name of Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Wittenberg. Do you speak The Luther Oak 1502 Luther? The Luther Oak stands at the Glutton southern end of Collegienstraße Luther’s expressions and quotes are deeply rooted in our language. Many of at the spot where Martin Luther A Wittenberg man, Jakob Kahle, known as ‘Fresskahle’, Education for all them are quite natural to us today and we are unaware that they were orig- burned the papal bull in 1520. ate everything he could lay his hands on: glass, nails, inally spoken by Luther: ‘Bite the bullet’, ‘On one’s own initiative’, ‘Move firewood, etc. When he died in 1753, he was dissected The first university established by a territorial mountains’, ‘Pride comes before a fall’, ‘Ants in the pants’, ‘One in the eye’, in the university’s anatomy theatre, and the resulting lord rather than by the church was established ‘Fits like a glove’, etc. Scarcely anyone has ever succeeded so well at express- dissertation was entitled “Über den Wittenberger in Wittenberg in 1502. The reputation of the ing the core of human characteristics and observations about coexistence as Viel- und Allesfresser” [On the Wittenberg glutton and Leucorea surpassed that of all other universi- precisely as Martin Luther. omnivore]. ties in Germany at the time. – 2 – – 3 – The town of the Reformation 6 12 16 20 26 32 A compact town Museums and Town of Living, working and exhibitions conferences and relaxing surrounded by Five museums are home conventions history – this has shaped to Wittenberg’s greatest Lutherstadt Wittenberg the attitude towards life historical treasures is and always has been a here town of discourse 18 8 A new spirit found Green town 28 A region its home Not only is Lutherstadt like no other Lutherstadt Wittenberg Wittenberg surrounded Lutherstadt Wittenberg is the birthplace and by beautiful countryside, is the perfect base from In 1996, UNESCO simultaneously granted four locations in Lutherstadt home of a new Protestant but the town itself is one which to explore Anhalt- Wittenberg the title ‘World Heritage Site’. Largely undamaged during World of the greenest places in faith – to this day Dessau-Wittenberg, a War II, world history is able to live on in this Renaissance town at the homes Germany region popular with tourists of Luther, Melanchthon and Cranach. 14 A world of wonders 22 Anyone looking from the direction of the Reformation in the 16th century. Since this A spectacular year Green light for Active and relaxing rec- 34 famous Elbe meadows towards the silhouette time, life here has been shaped by an atmos- Renaissance living industry In Lutherstadt reation in the Biosphere of the town today will see the unchanged phere of tolerance and discourse. The town Anyone seeking a Right at the heart Wittenberg, the streets Reserve The history of the town towers of the Castle Church (Schlosskirche) is located at the heart of Germany, with stylish, affordable and of things are the place to celebrate sometimes overshadows convenient place to live and Town Church (Stadtkirche). Both have excellent transport links to major cities such life the fact that important Firmly integrated will find a new home in shaped the townscape since Luther’s time as Berlin, Leipzig and Halle. Surrounded industries have located into the region’s Lutherstadt Wittenberg here – and with great infrastructure when Wittenberg gained its world-historical by a unique natural and cultural landscape, importance, which continues to have an Lutherstadt Wittenberg offers its residents a 10 success Historical mile impact today. distinctive place to live. Thanks to a stable Boredom not 24 Four World Heritage Conference and convention facilities have economy, a growing number of people are permitted Sites can be found in A place of been created in the historical walls. New finding training, job opportunities and Culture is a part of close proximity here education venues provide room for cultural events, career prospects here. Once the ‘Rome of the everyday life here – while new educational establishments North’, today it is a cultural and historical almost every day Lutherstadt Wittenberg is a town of science, the satisfy the growing need for continuing and gem with great economic potential. Let this origin of enlightened further education. Wittenberg retains the brochure guide you through our town – and thought character of a town of culture with histor- who knows, perhaps you’ll also be seduced ical roots reaching back to the time of the by Lutherstadt Wittenberg! – 4 – – 5 – The Beyerhof courtyard at Markt 6 has its own brewery, encouraging visitors to linger for a while. A compact town Living, working and relaxing surrounded by history Lutherstadt Wittenberg is a modern and pleasing place to live. Fortunately, it suffered virtually no damage during World War II and was left untouched by socialist urban redevelopment. Consequently, it has retained all of its original charm. Today it is a place where it is still possible to live, work and relax in harmony. Open streams flow through the town cen- taste.