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21 July 2022 / 8 Comments

Things to do in Wittenberg - 11 tips for the Lutheran city in Germany

What to do in Wittenberg, Germany? In this city, officially called "Lutherstadt Wittenberg", almost everything is about the reformer Martin Luther. This also makes the city interesting, and a bit different. Here are our top tips!

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Wittenberg

Wittenberg was an important centre of politics, culture and art in the 16th century and served as the capital of the Saxon Electors. It is best known for the fact that the Reformation was thought to have started here when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the castle church. Today, several sites in the city are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their connection to this historical development.

We visited the city during our motorhome trip, and must say that this place made for a nice and interesting stop.

Street art in Wittenberg

Wittenberg is located in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany. The city is about seven miles north of Leipzig, and about 11 miles southwest of the capital Berlin.

What can you do in Wittenberg?

So what can you see and do in Wittenberg? The city has a strong focus on Martin Luther and the history of the Reformation, making it a very special place to visit. Of course, there are also a number of other things to see and do. We've gathered our top tips here in a list.

1. See the castle church and the gate with the theses

All Saints' Church, or Schlosskirche (Castle Church) as it is commonly known, is a powerful Lutheran church in Wittenberg. It is on the door of this church that Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses in 1517, which is considered the start of the Protestant Reformation. Today, the old gate has been replaced by a new one, where the theses are permanently engraved.

Because of its religious significance and testimony to the impact of the Reformation on the world, the church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996, along with other sites in Wittenberg and Eisleben associated with Martin Luther and Reformer Philip Melanchthon.

The historic church can be visited inside, by purchasing a ticket for the church and the castle museum. If you wish, you can also buy a combination ticket, together with an exhibition of works of art or together with the city church.

2. peek into the castle museum

Wittenberg Castle is connected to the Castle Church and was historically the residence of the Saxon Electors. In the 16th century, it was one of the most magnificent early Renaissance fortified castles in Germany. Today, after several fires and the decline of Wittenberg's importance, little remains of the castle's former splendour.

However, you can visit the Castle Museum, where you can learn about Martin Luther, among other things. In the pictures below you can see Peter studying the theses and a computer image showing that I (Helena) was the 51st museum visitor from Sweden since 2017. It was still a bit thin ... We can definitely recommend a visit here!

3. Urban walking

Wittenberg is a town full of historic houses, which can tell you about the times that have passed. The city's tourist office organises various guided tours, which can be interesting to join.

Another option is to pick up a map at the tourist office, where the most important buildings are marked, and follow it on your own. Outside most of these buildings you will then find a sign telling you more about the place.

In Wittenberg, you'll also find plenty of signs telling you about historical figures who have lived in the town or visited. For example, we found a sign telling us that the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf visited the town in 1631.

4. Admire the square and the town hall

When you visit Wittenberg, it's natural that you'll end up in the square (Wittenberger Martplatz) with the old town hall (Altes Rathaus) from 1541. The square is surrounded by beautifully restored Renaissance houses, and behind them you can also see the town church rising up.

Throughout history, this square has been a busy place, with everything from vegetable sales to executions. Even today, it hosts crowd-pleasing events such as the Christmas market, 'Luther's Wedding' on 1 June and the Reformation Festival on 31 October.

5. Look inside the city church

The Town Church of Wittenberg (St Mary's Church) is the oldest building in Wittenberg and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was in this church that Martin Luther once used to preach.

The famous painter Lucas Cranach the Elder designed the beautiful Reformation altar. Also worth seeing are further paintings by Cranach and the richly decorated baptismal font, created by Hermann Vischer.

6. Visit the Luther House

One thing you won't want to miss in Wittenberg is a visit to the Lutherhaus (Luther House). Originally an Augustinian monastery, Martin Luther lived here as a monk from 1508.

He later lived here with his wife Katharina von Bora and their children. The front building is called the Augusteum, after its sponsor August I of Saxony, and until 1937 there was a Lutheran school on the ground floor.

Today, the Luther House is the largest Reformation museum in the world and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The permanent exhibition tells the story of Luther's life and work, as well as his influence on history.

One thing we realised was that Luther's 'family' was very large. In addition to their own five children, the family took in foster children. In addition, Luther had a large number of students living with him, as well as servants. Around 35-50 people may have lived in the house at the same time, and there were many people at dinner every night ...

7. Visit Melanchthon's house

Philipp Melanchthon was a German theologian and reformer, and Luther's main collaborator. The Melanchton Haus is a Renaissance house from 1536, where Melanchthon lived and worked until his death. The house (the light-coloured house on the left in the picture below) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a modern building has been built next to it to house the exhibition "Philipp Melanchthon: "Life - Work - Impact'.

The exhibition explores Melanchthon's life, work and impact on the Reformation. Peter also took the opportunity to test the style of the time... What do you think?

8. Discover 'Cranach's world'

In the early 16th century, the famous painter Lucas Cranch the Elder ran a printing shop at Markt 4 in Wittenberg. Over time, he expanded his business and also acquired Wittenberg's largest farm, at Schlosstrasse 1, where he ran a pharmacy. Today both buildings are listed, and at Markt 4 you can see the exhibition 'Cranach's World'.

Cranach Foundation, Markt 4 in Wittenberg.

9. Be fascinated by the Panorama "Wittenberg 360°".

If you want to experience the Wittenberg of the past in a more intense way, don't miss the "Wittenberg 360°" panoramic experience. Here you step into a large circular building, the interior of which is covered with a huge panoramic canvas with fantastically detailed illustrations of Wittenberg in Luther's time. Here you can see Martin Luther himself in action, the irritated priests and the crowds of people going about their daily business.

You can view the images from the ground floor, or climb up to a viewing level to get a different view. At the same time, you can listen to stories about the city and its history through headphones. Engaging and fascinating!

10. Walk at the Piesteritz workers' housing estate

An unusual attraction in Wittenberg is the 'Piesteritz workers' housing estate'. This area once served as home to more than a thousand people in the former chemical factory Reichsstickstoffwerk.

The area was built by urban planner Georg Haberland and architect Otto Rudolf Salvisberg in 1916, with the aim of building functional housing for workers, which also promoted community and proximity to nature. The aim was to achieve a balance between work and private life.

One thing that was revolutionary about the residential area when it was created, and which is still special today and makes the area attractive, is that it is completely car-free. It's amazing how peaceful and idyllic it is without cars!

11. check out the Hundertwasser School

When we visited Magdeburg earlier in this trip, we familiarised ourselves with the fantastic The Green Citadel, created by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. What a lovely surprise when we discovered that there is a building by the same artist in Wittenberg!

The Hundertwasser School (Hundertwassererschule) was renovated according to the famous artist's plans and was completed in 1999. If you want to see more and get more information, you can book a guided tour.

More things to do in Wittenberg for culture and history lovers

Want to experience even more in this beautiful and interesting city? Here you will find more suggestions for things to do in Wittenberg and the surrounding area, for those interested in culture and history.

  • Clack Theatre shows theatre and shows (Market 1)
  • Leucorea is a university founded in 1502, where Martin Luther studied. The buildings, except for the Augusteum, are not original (Collegienstrasse 62).
  • Luther Garden is a park that is a project of the Lutheran Church (Kurfürstenring).
  • Museum of Town History is a museum that tells the history of the city. (Zeughaus, Juristenstrasse 16a)

More to do in Wittenberg for those travelling with kids or teens

Travelling with children or teenagers? Then you'll find some more tips on things to do in Wittenberg here.

  • Alaris Butterfly Park (Butterfly Park) showcases exotic butterflies (Rothemarkstrasse 131).
  • Tourist train can take you on a tour of famous places in the city.
  • Fläming Nature Park offers beautiful nature, as well as signposted cycling and hiking trails.
  • Wittenberg Zoo has aphus, aquarium and other animals (Pfaffengasse 8).

Where can you live or stay with your campervan?

There are of course many different hotels and other accommodation options in Wittenberg to choose from. We visited Wittenberg by motorbike and stayed at the car park at the Hotel Wittenberg, at Kurfürstenring 32. It is located in the courtyard of the hotel and has space for four motorhomes.

The location is very close to the city centre, making it an excellent starting point for visiting the city. The staff was also friendly and we felt safe.

However, we found the price high in relation to the level of service. For 20 euros / day you can stand on the site, for 5 euros extra / day you get electricity and for another 5 / euro you can borrow a toilet and shower (2022). No other service is available, i.e. neither garbage collection, fresh water nor grey or black water drainage.

Göra i Wittenberg
We forgot to take a picture of the site ... so here's a picture from the city centre

More to see and do near Wittenberg

There is of course more to see and do near Wittenberg. For example, you can visit the beautiful Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz and the city of Dessau, famous for the Bauhaus design school. It's also not too far to the exciting the city of Magdeburg.

All our top tips about Germany. Click on the image!

More tips for things to do in Wittenberg?

Have you been to Wittenberg? Tell us about your experience and your relationship with the city! Do you have even more tips for things to see and do in Wittenberg?

Facts about Wittenberg

  • Country: Germany
  • Federal Republic of Germany: Saxony-Anhalt
  • Name: Formally "Lutherstadt Wittenberg"
  • Residents: Around 46 000 (2019)
  • Read more: You can find more information at the city's tourist office.

Travelling to Wittenberg

  • Flight: For example, you can fly to Leipzig/Halle. From here you can continue by train or car hire.
  • Car: You can take a ferry, for example Nynäshamn - Rostock or Ystad - Sassnitz. From Sassnitz to Wittenberg it takes about 4.5 hours to drive.

You might also like:

Göra i DessauThings to do in Dessau - 14 tips for the Bauhaus city Göra i DresdenThings to do in Dresden - 18 sights and experiences Things to do in Goslar - 11 tips for a historic town in Germany Att göra i BambergThings to do in Bamberg - 14 tips for a lovely German town Att göra i BayreuthThings to do in Bayreuth, Bavaria - our top 11 tips Göra i HannoverWhat to do in Hannover - 15 sights and experiences

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21 July 2022 6:00
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6 Comments

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  1. Annar Aas says:

    Great report from Wittenberg. For understandable reasons I have been there a few times, both with young and old. You make one long to go there again.

    21 July 2022 - 9:16

    Reply

  2. joakim fransson says:

    Yes, Wittenberg is nice. And I hope you tried the beer from there. Then there is a very nice campsite / camping a bit away in Coswig called Marina-Coswig and is located right down by the Elbe, so if you have not stayed there, try it next time you are in the neighbourhood./Jocke

    22 July 2022 - 7:58

    Reply

  3. Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:

    Very interesting and recognisable from Wittenberg. Have been there a few times as a tour guide. Seen most things, but not everything.

    23 July 2022 - 10:31

    Reply

  4. Benny Brockmark says:

    The towns of Wittenberg and Wittenberge are sometimes confused. It is Wittenberge that is located north-west of Berlin.

    07 June 2023 - 22:52

    Reply

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