Live City Walking Tour

Wittenberg's four UNESCO World Heritage sites, which can be visited barrier-free over a distance of approximately 2 kilometers, include: St. Mary's Church, the Castle and Castle Church, the Luther House, and the Melanchthon House.

These four magnificent sights alone make Wittenberg a truly special journey of discovery. In addition, the fascinating history of the Reformation is visibly present at every turn, and you can see where Martin Luther and numerous other important figures lived, wrote and made history.

Greetings!

I'm Björn Dischleit, your certified city guide, contact person for all things around Wittenberg and the Reformation, operator and author of the LutherWiki.

As a long-time employee of the Luther Memorials Foundation, I've learned, continue to learn, and taught many interesting stories, humorous anecdotes and even some dark tales surrounding Martin Luther – and I'm happy to share them with you. With me, you'll learn everything firsthand from a local city guide.

I offer tours in the following languages:

• German
• English

A city tour lasts an average of 1.5 hours. On the approximately 2 kilometers we walk through the historic old town, you'll get a good overview of Wittenberg. Not only do we cover Luther's time and the Reformation, but also the history of the Holy Roman Empire under Napoleon and also Prussia.

When was the last execution on the market square? How were suspected witches treated back then, and what was life like during the plagues in the city? (Thankfully there won't be any during your visit!) These are all questions that will be answered as we immerse ourselves in the rich culture of different eras.

Book me directly through Wittenberg Tourist Information:

Tourist-Information am Schlossplatz
Tel. 03491-498610
info(at)lutherstadt-wittenberg.de
www.lutherstadt-wittenberg.de

For further guided tours with me, I recommend the following highlights:

1. Highlight - St. Mary's Church, guided tour inside, duration: 60 minutes

The famous St. Mary's Church, also known as the Luther Church of the Reformation, is a striking building, and not just from the outside. Inside, you'll find the original baptismal font from 1453, created by Hermann Vischer. Luther had his six children baptized here, and his marriage to Katharina von Bora, the resolute nun who had escaped from the Marienthron Monastery, was held in this church.

The Cranach paintings, epitaphs, and especially the Reformation altar vividly reflect the Reformers' voluptuous world of thought. You'll learn, among other things, the secrets hidden behind the altarpiece during the 60-minute guided tour of Wittenberg's church.

The Sauer organ, built in 1811 and modified in 1983, gives a sense of how the congregation hung hypnotically on Luther's every word as he preached from the pulpit there some 2,000 times. In doing so, he planted the seeds of reformist thinking in the minds of people still stuck in the Middle Ages – and thus led them to a forgiving God.

2. Highlight - All Saints Castle Church, guided tour inside, duration: 60 minutes

Since the end of the 19th century, Wittenberg's striking skyline has been dominated by the Prussian dome of the All Saints Castle Church. What once began as a small collegiate church around 1340, has long been a hotly contested place among the great and the powerful.

The Prussian investment is evident not only in the exterior of the Castle Church. Inside one can find French sandstone, oak carvings, precious paintings, and the tombs of Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, the Ascanian dynasty, and the electors.

Why is the date of death on Luther's grave given as 63, when he actually died at 62? Why is Elector Frederick the Wise considered the first European, and what is the story behind the richly decorated 52 coats of arms on the altar balustrade? Questions that promise exciting answers as you explorer the heart of the Reformation in Wittenberg. Join me!

If you have any questions about the tours or if you would like to make any special requests, please feel free to contact me by eMail at: seidabei[at]lutherwiki.de