In Luther’s footsteps through three states TRAVEL COMPANION 1 W W W. L U T H E R PA S S . D E Publishing Information Kindly supported by: Publisher and concept: Landkreis Elbe-Elster | Büro Landrat Marketing-Koordinatorin | Janine Kauk Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 2 | 04916 Herzberg T. 03535 461240 [email protected] www.lkee.de Find us online at www.lutherpass.de and on Facebook as www.facebook.com/Pass.Luther Information correct as of: February 2017 Design, illustration, printing: diepiktografen.de Tourism consultants: Tourismusverband Elbe-Elster-Land e. V. Project management, text: wieduwilt-kommunikation.de Photography: Andreas Franke, Kai Hüttner WEGWEISER Welcome to land of the Reformation between Elbe and Elster! THE LUTHER PASS TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY When Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg 500 years ago, most likely none of his contemporaries would have believed this to be the beginning of social changes which resonate to this day. Luther’s teachings spread rapidly far beyond Wittenberg’s borders to Torgau, Jüterbog and also to the land between the rivers Elbe and Elster. Taking these important roots of the Reformation into account, we would like to provide you with a very special travel companion for this anniversary year: the Luther Pass. It serves as a personal guide to your journey in Luther’s footsteps through Elbe-Elster and three further districts. Discover fascinating facts and hidden gems on your stamp collection tour. Enjoy the regional brands, products and offers of our “Pass-Paten” or passport godparents. You will also find additionnal useful hints and information on the Reformation towns of Elbe-Elster, Wittenberg, Northern Saxony and TeltowFläming in this guide. Feel free to use these suggestions and recommendations on your voyage of discovery through one of the most beautiful regions of Brandenburg. Enjoy your journey following Luther’s footsteps in three states! And do let us take part in your travels – tell us about your adventures on Facebook or by e-mail: [email protected] Happy travels in Luther’s footsteps Your Luther Pass team 3 L U T H E R PA S S Luther Pass What is the Luther Pass? IN LUTHER’S FOOTSTEPS THROUGH THREE STATES Lutherstadt Wittenberg 4 The year 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the doors of Wittenberg Castle Church. These 95 Theses are considered the foundation of the Reformation. Martin Luther worked not only in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, he also left traces of his work in the so-called “Zweistromland der Reformation” or lands of the Reformation between the two rivers. Here, in the region between the rivers Elbe and Elster, his theses fell on fertile ground and had a profound impact on people’s lives – be it on the monasteries that became “unnecessary” or on the ordinary peasants who were now allowed to communicate directly with their God. However, they were also shaken by the ensuing power struggles such as the battle of Mühlberg/Elbe, which decided the Schmalkaldic War to the disadvantage of the Protestants. Luther’s traces can be discovered in Saxon Torgau, where the former monk stayed more than 60 times and where he composed the first Protestant set of regulations for visitation and L U T H E R PA S S One of the unique stamps the Torgau Articles. The town of Jüterbog has a special significance: Here, the Dominican monk Johann Tetzel practised the sale of indulgences. eSince more and more citizens of Wittenberg made their way to nearby Jüterbog to buy their way out of their sins, Luther drew up his 95 Theses that would change the world. In Bad Liebenwerda, Luther met the Papal emissary. In Herzberg (Elster), he drew up the first school ordinances with Melanchthon. The Pass also takes visitors to Doberlug-Kirchhain. Here, an exhibition in the palace illustrates what happened to the monks when the monasteries were dissolved. The Luther Pass leads visitors on a journey through the lands of the Reformation between the two rivers. Similar to a pilgrim passport, participants can collect a specially designed and unique stamp in each of the Luther Pass towns. The Pass can be thought of as a personal guidebook to the traces of the Reformation, which every visitor can discover on their own or as part of a group. It offers room for memories and a timeline allowing you to arrange events in the region in order. Needless to say, it can be personalised just like you would expect from a proper passport. There is space for your name, for further details and also for a passport photograph. Luther Pass holders can have their passport photograph taken free of charge at the Luther Pass photo booth at Museum 1547 in Mühlberg. In this way, visitors create their own unique souvenir of their journey to the Reformation. It also offers interesting additional information. Moreover, a variety of events and promotions are linked to the Luther Pass. Among them, permanent and special exhibitions, theatre, festivals, concerts, readings, talks and special projects. The district of Elbe-Elster developed the concept of the Luther Pass. It thus created a unifying document, connecting the past and the present as well as the entire region of the Luther Pass, spanning three states. A straightforward yet rewarding experience for the visitor! The Luther Pass is available free of charge at the Pass issuing points in the participating towns of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Jüterbog, Bad Liebenwerda, Torgau, Doberlug-Kirchhain, Herzberg (Elster), Mühlberg/Elbe and Finsterwalde. Further information at: www.lutherpass.de 5 Jüterbog Luther described in his “Table Talk” how Tetzel offered his letters of indulgence in Jüterbog, driving Luther to write his theses. Thomas Müntzer was also active in Jüterbog with his fiery speeches, questioning even the Pope’s authority. St. Nikolai Church houses Tetzel’s famous coffer as well as a purgatory altar from Cranach’s workshop. Jüterbog boasts a charming medieval town centre. The former Franciscan monastery in the heart of the town houses the museum. Here, you will find a letter of indulgence of the kind that Tetzel sold to the people during his lifetime. There are also the interactive children’s museum “MittelalterMit-mach-Museum” and opportunities to trace the terms “Kanzelstreit” or pulpit dispute and “Lutheraner” back to their origins. 6 JÜTERBOG S R PAS LUTHE REISPE TIP Dammtor Jüterbog Mönchenkloster cultural quarter Tetzel, Indulgences, Purgatory EXHIBITION AND STAMP POINT SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS The Franciscan monastery was completed in 1510. It became a Protestant parish church after its dissolution in 1564. The church has been the home of the town library and a concert venue since 1985. After extensive renovations, the museum, the town information point and the cultural record office also moved in. Exhibitions at Mönchenkloster and St. Nikolai Church from 8 September to 26 November 2017 on: 1. Purgatory and fear of the Turks – the basis for large scale indulgences 2. The historical and the legendary Tetzel 3. Indulgences in practice: St. Nikolai Church Mönchenkloster Mönchenkirchplatz 4 | 14913 Jüterbog T. 03372 463113 Openingtimes Tue, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 17:00 Wed, Sun 13:00 – 17:00 Thur 13:00 – 18:00 Mönchenkloster Mönchenkirchplatz 4 | 14913 Jüterbog T. 03372 463113 Opening Times Sun – Thur 10:00 – 18:00 | Fri – Sat 10:00 – 19:00 7 JÜTERBOG Protestant church of St. Nikolai Jüterbog Tetzel chest and purgatory altar Public tours Wednesdays and Sundays at 14:00. Bookings on T. 03372 463113 GUIDED TOWN WALKS CHURCH VISIT During a walk in the medieval town centre, you will explore impressive churches, the town fortification with its walls, gates and towers, and one of the oldest town halls in Brandenburg. Stadtinformation Jüterbog Mönchenkirchplatz 4 | 14913 Jüterbog T. 03372 463113 The Church of Our Lady, or Liebfrauenkirche, was consecrated in 1174 by Archbishop Wichmann. This is where Thomas Müntzer preached in 1519. The organ is a Wagner original from 1737. It is the largest single-manual organ by Berlin master organ builder Joachim Wagner still in existence. Protestant church of St. Nikolai CHURCH VISIT St. Nikolai Church with its lavish pre-Reformation furnishings invites you to shine a light on its former significance for piety, provisions for afterlife and the trade in indulgences. Please contact the parish office for a guided tour. Ev. Kirche St. Nikolai Planeberg 71 | 14913 Jüterbog T. 03372 432509 (parish office) 8 Church of Our Lady Liebfrauenkirche Am Dammtor | 14913 Jüterbog T. 03372 432509 (parish office) Opening Times Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 (open from Good Friday) Heilig-Geist-Platz LOCATION OF THE HOSPITAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT First official preaching place of Lutheran Pastor Thomas Schneidewein. The memorial stone recalls the disappearance of the pastor during his assistance in the escape of the Danish princess Elisabeth in 1526. The Luther oak tree is from 1883. JÜTERBOG FÜR EN R U SP CHER SU Mönchenkloster Medieval Jüterbog Citizens’ Information Jüterbog Town Hall Markt 21, Jüterbog T. 03372 463117 www.jueterbog.eu OpeningTimes Mon 9:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 15:00 Tue 9:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 16:00 Thur 9:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 18:00 Luther-Tetzel-Weg GROUP OFFERS IN THE THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD TOWN CYCLE AND PILGRIMAGE TOUR Smaller and larger groups can look forward to entertaining experiences with a medieval flair. Events range from the musical request programme “Call a Concert” on Baer, Wagner or Rühlmann organ to an evening of “Silent Movie and Organ” and to stories from “Legendae Aurea”, the most widely read book of the Middle Ages, with the theme “Saints and Wines”. This path got the Reformation going more than 500 years ago. Wittenberg citizens went on a pilgrimage to Jüterbog to receive their indulgences. Further information at: www.luther-tetzel-weg.de Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Nikolai Planeberg 71 | 14913 Jüterbog T. 0175 1633926 [email protected] Fläming-Skate A PARADISE FOR SKATERS AND CYCLISTS The smoothest tarmac, a paradise for skaters and cyclists, separated from the roads and surrounded by nature. 220 kilometres of rolling pleasure. Further information at: www.flaeming-skate.de Catholic St. Hedwig’s church with “Tetzel Chapel” CHURCH VISIT This is the church Tetzel stayed in during his sojourn in Jüterbog in 1517. He prepared a private chapel for himself (Gothic, 14th century), which has been called “Tetzel Chapel” ever since. St. Hedwigkirche Große Straße 86 | 14913 Jüterbog 9 Lutherstadt Wittenberg Visitors from all over the world come to Wittenberg to follow in the footsteps of Reformer Martin Luther. For the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, the town once more becomes the focal point for the entire Christian world, but those simply interested in art, culture and history will also enjoy their visit. The town on the river Elbe boasts four UNESCO World Heritage Sites alone, plus: the largest museum on the history of the Reformation in the world, Asisi’s “Luther 1517” panorama, and the unique surroundings of the natural and cultural landscape of the Middle Elbe with further UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites. Visitors can experience a wealth of offers in Wittenberg itself and also in the region between Berlin and Leipzig, the so-called “Garden Kingdom”. 10 LU T H E R S TA DT W I T T E N B E RG S R PAS LUTHE REISPE TIP Panorama „Luther 1517“ Panorama „Luther 1517“ Castle Church CIRCULAR ARTWORK UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE Panorama experience by Yadegar Asisi to commemorate the Luther anniversary in 2017. The artist created a 360° panoramic artwork depicting the events that took place in Wittenberg 500 years ago after the publication of Martin Luther’s theses. In the rotunda, you can experience pictures and impressions of the monk and scholar Martin Luther and his companions Philipp Melanchthon, Lucas Cranach, Katharina von Bora and Justus Jonas. The panorama allows visitors to delve deeply into the historical topics and their times and to open up new perspectives on the Reformation. The panorama exhibition “Luther 1517” is a unique experience, appealing to all the senses. The Schlosskirche or Castle Church is Wittenberg’s iconic landmark. Building work began in 1489 as part of the new residential palace for Frederick III, Elector of Saxony (Frederick the Wise), and the church was consecrated in 1503. Tradition holds that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses against the practice of indulgences in the contemporary Church to the doors of the Castle Church. “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” – the line “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” from Martin Luther’s chorale takes pride of place in large letters on the tower of this impressive place of worship. Visitors can find the graves of Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon inside the church. Tickets Price Schlossplatz Tourist Information Stadthaus Tourist Information €11 adults (€9 reduced) Castle Church Schlossplatz 1 | 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg T. 03491 5069161 www.schlosskirche-wittenberg.de Wittenberg 360 Wilhelm-Weber-Str. (corner of Lutherstr.) | 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg T. 03491 4594910 [email protected] | www.wittenberg360.de OpeningTimes Mon – Sun 10:00 – 18:00 11 LU T H E R S TA DT W I T T E N B E RG FÜR N SPURHEER SUC Wittenberg castle church World Exhibition on the Reformation EXHIBITION The World Exhibition on the Reformation in Lutherstadt Wittenberg invites you to discover the seven “Gates of Freedom” between 20 May and 10 July 2017. Exhibitors from the churches, society and politics present a variety of perspectives on the Reformation in the exhibition’s gate areas. Spanning 16 themed weeks, the World Exhibition on the Reformation offers an interesting and varied lineup every Wednesday through Monday. The main events of the Reformation anniversary year 2017 get underway with the re-opening of the newly-renovated Augusteum, the world’s largest museum on the history of the Reformation, on 4 March 2017. It also hosts the grand opening of the national special exhibition “Luther! – 95 Thesen – 95 Menschen” (Luther! – 95 Theses – 95 People) on 13 May 2017. Lutherstadt Wittenberg 12 Tourist Information Lutherstadt Wittenberg Schloßplatz 2 | 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg T. 03491 498610 www.lutherstadt-wittenberg.de LU T H E R S TA DT W I T T E N B E RG Thesentür an der Schlosskirche Wittenberg’s historic old town Experience world history TOWN WALK CYCLE TOUR See the where the Reformation took place! Take a look at Wittenberg’s historic town centre with its castle church and the famous theses door. Stroll along the same streets Luther and his associates passed through. Further add-ons available for this walk. The region around Lutherstadt Wittenberg is a paradise for cyclists. Well-developed and signposted cycle routes invite you to explore the surroundings. One of the highlights is the Elbe Cycle Route. One of its most beautiful sections takes you along the Middle Elbe and through Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Discover the numerous nearby UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Bauhaus town of Dessau-Roßlau or Wörlitz Park. Other Luther Pass towns are also at a manageable cycling distance, allowing you to collect further stamps and to discover Luther’s traces elsewhere. Further information at Lutherstadt Wittenberg’s Tourist Information (T. 03491 498610) or at: www.lutherstadt-wittenberg.de Meetingpoint Tourist Information Lutherstadt Wittenberg 2h Town walk (Schlosskirche–Lutherhaus) any Duration building visit adds ca. 30 mins €90 (1–25 participants) Price German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, RusLanguages sian, Slovak, Czech Tourist Information Lutherstadt Wittenberg Schloßplatz 2 | 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg T. 03491 498610 www.lutherstadt-wittenberg.de 13 Bad Liebenwerda Prior to the Reformation, the town was a place of pilgrimage to worship the Virgin Mary, with a great number of pilgrims. Nevertheless, Luther’s theses fell on fertile ground here at the centre of the Reformation and Liebenwerda became Protestant from 1525 onwards at the latest. This is where Luther met the papal nuncio in 1519 – but continued to adhere to his Theses. In 1544, Luther himself ordained pastor Martin Gilbert into his new office as superintendent of Liebenwerda parish. The Barons of Minkwitz pulled the strings behind the historical scenes. The little spa town of Bad Liebenwerda is one of the oldest spa towns in the state of Brandenburg, offering plenty of opportunity to actively relax and recuperate or to take a stroll in the lovingly restored historic town centre. 14 BAD LIEBENWERDA LUTHER PASS REISE TIPP Central German Puppet Theatre Museum St. Nikolai Town Church CHURCH VISIT The town church was rebuilt in 1515 after a fire and features an impressive predominantly neo-Gothic interior. The Reformer Martin Luther visited in 1519. Kirche St. Nikolai Markt | 04924 Bad Liebenwerda www.kirche-badliebenwerda.de Parish office Markt 24 | 04924 Bad Liebenwerda T. 035341 2264 OpeningTimes Tue 10:00 – 12:00 | Thur 13:00 – 15:00 Lubwart Tower STAMP MOTIF AND VISIT The town’s landmark – and a Luther Pass stamp motif is Lubwart Tower. The distinctive tower was erected in 1207 as the keep of a medieval castle. Its top was destroyed in a fire in 1733 and was not reconstructed. The tower with its walls of up to three meters in thickness has looked the same ever since. Tickets for the tower visit available in the museum. Puppet Theatre Museum GET YOUR HANDS ON THE REFORMATION You can trace Luther’s steps even in the Museum on the History of Central German Puppet Theatre. Luther met the papal nuncio just around the corner from here. The museum hosts a childoriented special exhibition on everyday life in the region’s towns and villages around the year 1550 from 16 April to 31 October 2017. Here, children are allowed to play and understand the consequences of Luther’s theses for the ordinary man. The museum also conserves the heritage of the brothers Graun, who shaped musical life at the court of Prussian King Frederick III as composers and virtuoso instrumentalists. Lubwartturm und Mitteldeutsches Marionettentheatermuseum Burgplatz 2 | 04924 Bad Liebenwerda T. 035341 12455 OpeningTimes Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 (Apr – Sep until 18:00) 15 BAD LIEBENWERDA FÜR SPURE N SUCH ER Lubwart Tower Bad Liebenwerda What might Luther have seen... GUIDED HISTORICAL TOUR GUIDED TOWN WALK Did he cross the market square, did he even preach in Saint Nikolai Church? The papal confidant urged Luther to take a more moderate attitude in the doctrinal conflict. As we know, Luther remained firm in his position and the Papal nuncio was unable to deliver any significant results. Further information at the following website: www.bad-liebenwerda.de Town guide Cornelia Dietze takes on the identity of Katharina von Bora, “die Lutherin”. She chats about her marriage to Martin Luther, who was well known for his earthy language, his love of food and drink and his delight in singing and dancing. We hear of all-night revelries and discussions with his students, friends and enemies. During the walk, the guide interweaves events from Liebenwerda’s history with quotations from and true incidents involving the Luthers. 11:00 every last Sunday of the month (from Jan 2017) 19:00 every second Wednesday of the month (April–Oct) Meetingpoint Markt 1 | Bad Liebenwerda ca. 1 h Guided tour in historical costume Duration €6 p.p. Price Date 16 “My life with a wild husband” Price €6 p.p. including church tour Tourist Information Roßmarkt 12 | 04924 Bad Liebenwerda T. 035341 6280 [email protected] | www.bad-liebenwerda.de BAD LIEBENWERDA Wonnemar Water Park Wonnemar Water Park Fruit and Jam In Luther’s footsteps FANCY MAKING A PINK JAM? PAMPER PACKAGE AT LAUSITZTHERME WONNEMAR Or create other goodies? The Niederlausitzer Heidemanufaktur invites you to give it a try. Workshops by appointment. • 2x overnight stay in a double room and breakfast • 1x 4 h entry to Mineralforum and Saunawelt, Wonnemar’s mineral baths and sauna • 1x Badehaus experience in Wonnemar spa (Relaxing pamper ritual, castle chamber style: herbal foam wash, warm showers and a herbal foam peeling allow you to experience pure well-being, herbal anointments and gentle brushings as well as a time of rest with a warming pad finish off your pampering, use of whirlpool, an enjoyable cup of tea, treatment time 60 mins plus rest time) • 1x rustic dinner with thirst quenching drink Niederlausitzer Heidemanufaktur Bahnhofstraße 15 | 04910 Hohenleipisch T. 03533 7823 www.niederlausitzer-heidemanufaktur.de Swim and Relax AT LAUSITZTHERME WONNEMAR Make your way to “Wonnemar” Water Park, whatever the weather. Here, movement is encouraged on the fun slide or in the swimming pool. In the mineral baths, you can experience the beneficial effects of the water and float in the thermal baths. Allow yourself to be pampered in the spa and enjoy the sauna. Further information at: www.wonnemar.de/bad-liebenwerda Price €173 p.p. (Bed & Breakfast) | €199 p.p. (Hotel) All prices include 19% VAT and tourist tax Single room supplement in the hotel p.p./day €10–18 Tourist Information Bad Liebenwerda T. 035341 6280 [email protected] 17 Torgau Martin Luther’s ideas found fruitful soil here. The Reformer is known to have stayed in the town more than 60 times. This explains the saying “Wittenberg is the mother and Torgau the wet-nurse of the Reformation”. Protestant princes formed the Torgau League to defend freedom of religion. Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas and Bugenhagen wrote the Articles or Torgau as foundations of the Augsburg Confession. The edict protecting the printing in Wittenberg of the complete edition of the bible was issued from the Torgau Residence. Martin Luther consecrated Torgau Palace Church, the first Protestant church building. Torgau was not only Katharina von Bora’s last stop on her life’s journey but was also the first stop on her way into civic life. 18 TORGAU R ✤✣TH E ✘ASS REISE TI Hartenfels Palace Katharina-Luther-Stube PALACE VISIT MEMORIAL SITE The important Electoral Palace, a gem of the early Renaissance, boasts a number of important historical figures, who either worked here or paid a visit: Martin Luther, Lucas Cranach, Heinrich Schütz, Czar Peter I, Napoleon. Here, you can not only discover traces of their connections with Torgau, but also learn about the Wendelstein. The palace chapel is the first newly-built Protestant church. Martin Luther himself consecrated Hartenfels Palace Chapel. In consultation with the Elector of Saxony Johann, the Reformers developed the first Protestant set of regulations for visitation and the Articles of Torgau, which became a part of the Confessio Augustana. Katharina Luther died in Torgau on 20 December 1552. The house on Katharinenstraße 11 is the only memorial to the Reformer’s wife. Contemplate rare first editions, coins and articles from everyday life of her time as well as various artistic works on “die Lutherin”. Torgau – Renaissance and Reformation Residence Katharina von Bora The woman at Luther’s side EXHIBITION EXHIBITION Dresden State Art Collection Exhibition on Torgau’s importance as main and secondary seat of the Electors of Saxony in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Starting 19 May 2017 Book a guided tour of Katharina-Luther-Stube: Further information on the following website: www.tic-torgau.de | www.museum-torgau.de Katharina-Luther-Stube Katharinenstraße 11 | 04860 Torgau T. 03421 70336 OpeningTimes Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (shorter in winter) Standfest. Bibelfest. Trinkfest. EXHIBITION Steadfast, well-versed in the bible, hard drinking: John Frederick the Magnanimous – the last Elector of the Ernestine branch. Permanent exhibition in the former Electoral chambers of the palace, starting 10 September 2017 Hartenfels Palace Schlossstraße 27 | 04860 Torgau OpeningTimes Tue – Sun 10:00 – 18:00 19 20 TORGAU Hartenfels Palace Chapel Open churches Roots and Wings PRAYER SERVICE AND DEVOTION EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE During the summer months, St. Mary’s Town Church and the Palace Church are usually open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, as well as Sundays after service. Please get in touch with the parish office at other times. Historic bell ringing daily at 12:00 and 18:00. A multimedia exhibition experience on the world of values in the building of the historical superintendency on Wintergrüne 2. Expect an unusual journey and exciting workshops on all themes of life. Everyone is invited to copy a verse and thus contribute to the Torgau Bible Project 2017. Parish office Wintergrüne 2 | Torgau www.evkirchetorgau.de Ev. Jugendbildungsprojekt wintergrüne Wintergrüne 2 | 04860 Torgau T. 03421 703480 [email protected] | www.wintergruene.de OpeningTimes Mon – Fri 10:00 – 16:00, by arrangement at other times Contemplation SERVICE Come to Sunday Service in St. Mary’s Town Church every Sunday at 10:00. 21 TORGAU Fountain on the market square Package Offer: Savour the Reformation THREE DAYS IN TORGAU Useful tip for planning your trip Public guided town walks daily 14:00 (Easter – Oct) and also Mon – Fri 18:00 (May – Sep) Meeting point: Tourist Information in the town hall Devotions in St. Mary’s Town Church Thur 12:00 (from Easter) 22 Learn more about Torgau as the political centre of the Reformation on a custom guided tour. The Torgau League was formed in 1526, the Torgau Articles as the base for the Augsburg Confession were finished four years later. Pause in front of Katharina von Bora’s tomb slab in the late Gothic hall church of St. Mary. Delight in the magnificent Renaissance buildings, listen in on the church’s Director of Music when he rehearses on the organ and learn more about Katharina’s wedding ring. Torgauer Tourismus & Bäder GmbH Torgau-Informations-Center Markt 1 | 04860 Torgau T. 03421 70140 [email protected] | www.tic-torgau.de Includes · 2x bed and breakfast in a *** hotel · 1x guided town and church tour – just for you (2 h) · 1x lunch and a three course dinner · 1x visit Torgau Museum Route · 1x visit special exhibition at the palace or one Torgau present · An interesting conversation about Katharina Luther’s wedding ring · 1x visit exhibition Roots and Wings · 1x short organ rehearsal · 1x coffee break and information material Dates Price throughout 2017 by prior arrangement and depending on availability from €179 p.p. in a double room from €205 p.p. in a single room valid for two participants or more (including admission fees) TORGAU A view into Torgau’s old town One day package: Torgau – Wet-nurse of the Reformation Another tip An exhibition in Spalatinhaus, the oldest priest’s house in Saxony, shines a light on Johan Walter, the so-called Urkantor or original choirmaster of the Reformation and on Georg Spalatin, who both played a major part in shaping the Reformation. Starting May 2017, Katharinenstraße 8. TOWN AND CHURCH TOUR There is evidence for around 60 visits by Luther to the former Saxon Electoral Residential Town. A strong Torgau middle class supported his ideas. Discover “Käthe’s” or Katharina Luther’s links with Torgau and talk to the goldsmith who reworks her wedding ring. Copy your bible verse in the former vicarage and leave your own traces in Torgau on your journey to Luther. Torgauer Tourismus & Bäder GmbH Torgau Information Centre Markt 1 | 04860 Torgau T. 03421 70140 [email protected] | www.tic-torgau.de Includes · 1x town and church tour - exclusively for you (2 h) · 1x visit of Katharina-Luther-Stube · 1x visit to the special exhibition in the palace (May–Oct) or a conversation about Katharina Luther’s wedding ring · 1x exhibition visit Roots and Wings · Information material Dates Preise throughout 2017 by prior arrangement and depending on availability €39 p.p. valid for two participants or more (including admission fees) 23 DoberlugKirchhain The first Cistercian monks settled in Dobrilugk in 1165. The late Romanesque church and the Refectory evoke their time. In Doberlug, the power of Luther’s words becomes apparent: The monastery, which had controlled the region’s fate for more than 400 years, was erased from the map around the year 1550. Its monks were forced to find new paths in life. Some monastery buildings were incorporated into the palace built for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg in the 17th century. The magnificently restored ensemble of monastery church, refectory and Renaissance palace as well as the Baroque planned town has today become a lively cultural venue and a tourist magnet in the south of Brandenburg. Kirchhain also boasts the only tawers’ museum in Europe, exploring the tanning trade. 24 DOBERLUG-KIRCHHAIN R P✙✚✚ E ✖✗TH RE PE TP Exhibition at Doberlug Palace Doberlug Palace reFORMationen. PALACE VISIT EXHIBITION The history of Doberlug Palace is inextricably linked with the Saxon House of Wettin. The magnificent palace once belonged to the Electors of Saxony. In its heyday in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was a secondary residence and hunting lodge for the Dukes of Saxe-Merseburg during the eponymous secundogeniture. In 2014, the palace was host to the first Brandenburg State Exhibition “Prussia and Saxony. Scenes from a Relationship between Neighbours”. From the summer of 2017 on, the museum will be home to a permanent exhibition on the history of the monastery, the palace and the planned town of Doberlug and on Saxon Brandenburg. It will also host temporary exhibitions on art and on aspects of regional and wider history. From 19 March to 2 July, the 11th exhibition by regional artists from the district of Elbe-Elster will explore an artistic view of the Reformation. The name of the exhibition, reFORMationen, implies the tried and trusted, changes, new beginnings and reshapings, interpreted by artists from Elbe-Elster, North RhineWestphalia, Northern Saxony, Wittenberg and Teltow-Fläming through their works. On the trail of the Reformation in Doberlug and Kirchhain PILLAR EXHIBITION (STARTING SPRING 2017) Doberlug Palace Museum Schloßplatz 1 | 03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain T. 035322 6888520 [email protected] “Preachers and citizens” throughout town 25 DOBERLUG-KIRCHHAIN Doberlug Palace Dobrilugk’s last monks Doberlug Palace Museum, the Brandenburg Main State Archive, Potsdam University and Doberlug-Kirchhain town. An exhibition of the Brandenburg, Land of Culture Campaign 2017, “Wort & Monastic life contradicted scripture, according to Luther, who Wirkung”, word and effect. Presented from 7 July to 12 November. thus started an enormous wave of secularization. The process also arrived at the mighty monastery Dobrilugk in around 1540. Its Doberlug Palace Museum Cistercian monks had to not only grapple with the new teachings, Schlossplatz 1 | 03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain but also had to start looking for new ways of life. The new lives of T. 035322 6888520 the last monks of Dobrilugk are the topic of an exhibition in the [email protected] museum of Doberlug Palace: They became Protestant pastors or Admission pensioners in a declining monastery, or even engaged in a Adults €4, children €2 (from 7 July 2017) criminal career. The exhibition also links the monks’ individual OpeningTimes fates to the history of Dobrilugk Monastery as a whole during the Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 (April – Sep until 18:00) first half of the 16th century: Once a mighty landowner, it became a playing field of political interests and was finally completely eradicated from the map as a clerical institution. A joint project by EXHIBITION 26 DOBERLUG-KIRCHHAIN Rautenstock Inn STAY AND ENJOY Quartier Rautenstock GbR Hauptstraße 18 | 03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain T. 035322 512130 www.quartier-rautenstock.de Leibnitz Ice Cream Parlour YUMMY ICE CREAM Eiscafé Leibnitz Hauptstraße 61 | 03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain T. 035322 2284 www.eiscafe-leibnitz.de Doberlug-Kirchhain Refectory Schlieben Vineyard Tawers’ Museum VINEYARD TOUR, WINE TASTING EXHIBITION “With girls and wine from Schlieben, you will neither be thirsty nor alone”, the Schlieben Association of Winegrowers claims. Monks brought viticulture here centuries ago. As wine always tastes best where it grows, we recommend a visit to Schlieben. Enjoy a tour of the vineyard and a wine tasting in a historic wine cellar or the vineyard or find out more about viticulture on the 1.5 km long wine trail (reservation required). Schlieben’s historic Kellerstraße or cellar road is especially worth a visit. This enclosed complex of cellars is the only one of its kind in northern Germany and dates from the late Middle Ages. It still boasts 34 cellars today, some of which have been renovated in the last few years. Traditionally, during the first weekend in July, wine is served in many of these old vaults. Musicians in the cellars or outside create a lively atmosphere and for three days, townsfolk and visitors from far and wide celebrate into the early hours. Further information at: www.weinbau-schlieben.de | www.moienmarkt.de What is leather? How is it made, why is it needed and how is it used? Find out the answers to these questions in Europe’s only tawers’ museum in Doberlug-Kirchhain. During the tanning trade’s heyday around 1900, there were nearly 100 tanners in Kirchhain town. Weißgerbermuseum Potsdamer Straße 18 | 03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain T. 035322 2293 [email protected] www.weissgerbermuseum.de OpeningTimes Tue – Thu 9:00 – 12:00, 14:00 – 17:00 Fri 10:00 – 12:00, 14:00 – 16:00 Sun/Bank Holidays 14:00 – 16:00 27 DOBERLUG-KIRCHHAIN ✛✜R Doberlug-Kirchhain palace complex The first German School Ordinances – CYCLE TOUR Distance: ca. 65 km Dates: 20 May | 07 October and on request Price p.p.: €10 Minimum of 10 participants Start time 09:00 at Doberlug Palace The First German School Ordinances – the Reformation of the Education System On the trail of Dobrilug Abbot Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen GUIDED CYCLE TOUR TO HERZBERG GUIDED CYCLE TOUR IN TWO PARTS Starting point is Doberlug Palace. The tour takes you through villages, woods and meadows and along unpaved but nevertheless passable trails to Herzberg. Here, Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon created and signed the first German School Ordinances in 1538 for Herzberg Latin School – emulated and spread throughout Germany. Even in today’s townscape, Herzberg’s ensemble of town hall, church and school is still especially noticeable. A visit to the impressive town church of “Sankt Marien”, a look at the historic Melanchthon Grammar School and the Reformation window decorations are all part of the tour. After a relaxing lunch break, we cycle along the Black Elster river to Uebigau. We are aiming for the historic market square and St. Nikolai parish church. We make our way back after a short coffee break, invigorated and full of new impressions. 1517 – Martin Luther nails his 95 theses to the doors of Wittenberg Castle Church, the start of a period of great change for Europe. Change that will even affect the centuries-old structures of the Cistercians. For a short time in 1526, Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen emerges from the dark recesses of history, to go down in the chronicles of Dobrilugk monastery as Abbot Balthasar. The public cycle tour in two parts covers ca. 120 km and takes you to historic locations linked to Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen and other events during the Reformation in the lands between Elbe and Black Elster. Lunches, coffees and church donations not included. 28 N SPURHEER SUC Part 1 of the cycle tour takes you to historical settings from Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen’s story. Start at 8:00 with a rustic monks’ breakfast and a subsequent visit to Doberlug monastery church. At 9:00, we start on part 1 of the cycle tour, going Doberlug – Wahrenbrück – Torgau with a visit to Wahrenbrück church and a rest at Graditz stud farm as well as an invigorating meal at an inn. DOBERLUG-KIRCHHAIN Themed Cycle Tour in Elbe-Elster Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen – Cycle Tour Part 1 Distance: ca. 60 km Date: 13 May and on request Bookings by 30 April Price p.p.: €45 Minimum of 10 participants Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen – Cycle Tour Part 2 Distance: ca. 60 km Date: 24 June and on request Bookings by 11 June Price p.p.: €42 Minimum of 15 participants There will be time to explore the sights of Torgau on this tour. Return is by train. Includes: monks’ breakfast, cycle tour manager, guided tour of Wahrenbrück church, lunch, guided tour of Graditz stud farm, return by train including bike ticket. Part 2 of the themed cycle tour starts after travelling to Torgau by train, likely departure time 07:43. A two-year legal battle ensued after Dobrilugk abbot Heinrich Monch von Merzkirchen unburdened Dobrilugk monastery of a considerable amount of wealth and possessions. The documented conclusion of the legal dispute granted the former abbot an annuity on return of the monastery treasure. He became a Torgau citizen and his traces were lost in the course of history. Arrival in Torgau by train: After a short stop in Torgau, we take the Elbe Cycle Route to Mühlberg and visit Museum 1547 (Battle of Mühlberg – end of the Schmalkaldic War and thus of the first war of religion on German soil). After a good rest and an invigorating lunch, the tour takes us to Bad Liebenwerda. A bust on St. Nikolai church commemorates Martin Luther’s visits to the town in 1519 and 1544. The last part of the tour to Doberlug Palace takes us along quiet country roads and purpose-built cycle paths. Includes: travel by train including bike ticket, monks’ snack, cycle tour manager, admission and guided tour of Museum Mühlberg, lunch, visit to St. Nikolai church Bad Liebenwerda. The tour can be booked for groups of 10 and up to 25 participants and can be adapted to your requirements. The tour can be organised as a two-day tour with an overnight stay or as a oneday tour of 60 km each on one of the sections, either Doberlug – Wahrenbrück – Torgau or Torgau – Mühlberg – Doberlug. Depending on the chosen route, either Wahrenbrück church and Graditz stud farm or Museum Mühlberg 1547 and St. Nikolai church in Bad Liebenwerda will be visited. Doberlug-Kirchhain Tourist Information Schlossplatz 1 | 03253 Doberlug-Kirchhain T. 035322 688850 [email protected] Touristinformation Finsterwalde Markt 1 | 03238 Finsterwalde T. 03531 717830 [email protected] 29 Herzberg (Elster) Herzberg is a little town with quaint medieval appeal. Once an important trading place due to its unique location on the Black Elster river, Herzberg is where the Reformers began to change the German school landscape. Herzberg citizens see their town as the “centre” of the Reformation – and they may be right in that. 30 HERZBERG (ELSTER) S R PAS E ✢✥TH REISPE TIP St. Mary’s Church Herzberg St. Mary’s Church Guided Town Walk with Katharina von Bora CHURCH VISIT HERZBERG’S ALLEYWAYS St. Mary’s town church’s late Gothic vault paintings are completely preserved, the oldest dating to 1415. The mainly figurative paintings are from the late 14th-century Bohemian school. The church, originally dedicated to St. Nicolas, features a tower with an octagonal top built between 1666 and 1679 and heralding the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week, that is, the eighth day, and thus broadcasts the Word of life into the countryside. It also houses the tourist information point, offering further information. Climbing the many stairs to the top of the tower is highly recommended. You will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the perfect medieval ensemble of the old town. Please go to the parish office (Magisterstraße 2) should the church be closed. Frau Lutherin will take her guests on a tour of historic Herzberg’s town centre. You will wander through medieval alleyways, be enchanted by the late medieval ceiling paintings in St. Mary’s town church and chat with „Frau Käthe“ about town and family stories in the turbulent times of the Reformation. Kirche St. Marien Kirchstraße 14 | 04916 Herzberg (Elster) www.kirche-herzberg.de OpeningTimes Mon – Sun 8:00 – 18:00 (April to Oct) Mon – Sun 8:00 – 16:30 (Nov to March) The exhibition throughout the city centre marks important sites of Reformation history. Texts and images on the displays paint a vivid picture of the events 500 years ago. Bookings T. 035352 480544 www.herzberg-elster.de The Reformation in Herzberg PILLAR EXHIBITION 31 HERZBERG (ELSTER) Uebigau market square 32 St. Nicolai parish church Uebigau Wahrenbrück Parish Church Uebigau CHURCH VISIT TOWN WALK Wahrenbrück Parish Church hosts the exhibition “Family Bible, Hymnbook and more”, starting in the middle of June. With Martin Luther, personal items of faith came into people’s homes. The exhibition displays such items, still present in homes of Wahrenbrück parish to this day. The little rural farming town is more than 750 years old and boasts an intact historic townscape with old alleyways. The town church of St. Nicolai from the 13th century is definitely worth a visit and features images of Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon. The church can be visited upon request. Pfarrkirche Wahrenbrück Uebigauer Straße 2 | 04924 Uebigau-Wahrenbrück T. 035341 94431 [email protected] www.uebigau-wahrenbrueck.de Exhibition opening times 17 June – 31 October 2017 Pfarrhaus (parish office) An der Kirche 1 | 04895 Uebigau-Wahrenbrück T. 035365 8291 HERZBERG (ELSTER) Elsterpark Luther Package A cycle tour around Herzberg TWO DAYS IN HERZBERG EXPLORE BY BIKE The ElsterPark in Herzberg/Elster, Brandenburg’s first wheelchair accessible function venue, offers a very special package for the Luther Year. You can stay in the TraumHaus, eat in the BlauHaus, book some of the activities (e.g. high wire adventure garden, canoe rental) or follow in the footsteps of Luther and Melanchthon in the historic town centre. A visit to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, some 60 km from here, is also recommended. Upon request, we can offer wheelchair transfer or similar assistance. Rent a bike and explore the town and its beautiful surroundings. You will get information on bike rental and touring tips at Elsterpark. Includes · Overnightstayinadoubleroom wheelchair accessible · 2xheartybreakfast p.p. · 1xLuther3-coursemeal per person on day of arrival · 2bicycles for the whole day €107 p.p. (31 October 16 – 31 March 17) Price €120 p.p. (1 April 17 – 31 October 17) Booking and Information ElsterPark | Badstraße 29 – 30 | 04916 Herzberg (Elster) T. 03535 48300 [email protected] | www.elsterpark-herzberg.de Bücherkammer Herzberg Elsterpark Badstraße 29-30 | 04916 Herzberg (Elster) T. 03535 4830120 [email protected] | www.elsterpark-herzberg.de “Paths to God – Paths to Each Other” – Church Route Elbe-Elster CYCLE TOUR This guided cycle tour demonstrates how faith brings people together. Participants explore the different paths of Christian faith in Wahrenbrück, Bönitz and Saxdorf. The themed Reformation tour takes you along the Church Route Elbe-Elster from Wahrenbrück to Mühlberg and includes guided church visits, admission to a museum, coffees and dinner. Date Start 27 August 2017 (Bookings by 22 August 2017) Wahrenbrück parish church SLOW DOWN AND READ Herzberg’s Bücherkammer is a special little gem, offering stories about the Augustinian monks who disseminated Luther’s new teachings: Slow down and explore the books or have a coffee. They also stock local historian Ulf Lehmann’s wonderful book on the Reformation in Herzberg “Mit Luther und Melanchthon unterwegs in Herzberg – die Reformation in Herzberg” and many more. Bücherkammer Herzberg Torgauer Straße 21 | 04916 Herzberg T. 03535 248779 www.buecherkammer.de Opening Times Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00| Sat 9:00–11:00 Information and booking Pfarramt Wahrenbrück Mühlgasse 1 | 04924 Uebigau-Wahrenbrueck www.kirchenstrasse-elbe-elster.de R N SPURHEER SUC 33 Mühlberg/ Elbe Mühlberg has been shaped by the river Elbe for centuries. Discover the town’s urban development with the changing flow of the river in Museum Mühlberg 1547. With the straightening of the Elbe, the town, once embraced and separated by the river, became unified for the first time. The convent was created in the northern part of town, a place for reflection and contemplation to this day. Mühlberg is also the site of a decisive battle of the Reformation. Protestant troops suffered a crucial defeat here in 1547. The museum breathes life into these events – a memorable experience. 34 MÜHLBERG/ELBE S R PAS E ★✩TH REISPE TIP Mühlberg convent church Marienstern Convent CONVENT VISIT The nunnery was founded in the 13th century by the lords of Ileburg, who were then the town lords of Mühlberg. The nuns used to congregate in the imposing early Gothic brick-built convent church several times a day for choral prayer. They followed the Rule of St. Benedict and the Cistercian customs without formally being a member of the order. In 1539, the Reformation reached Mühlberg. The convent was dissolved but the nuns were allowed to remain at first. The last remaining nuns moved to Holy Cross Convent in Meißen in 1559. The farmyard became a manor estate, receiving its name “Güldenstern” in 1662. The Abbess’ house was converted to become the estate’s mansion in 1717. The convent church was used as a Protestant parish church after the Reformation. Dur- ing the 1960s, the Protestant community gave up the church. Mühlberg town transferred the convent to the Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg in 2000. The convent’s buildings today house an “ecumenical house for encounters and silence”, which is overseen by two Padres from the Claretian Order. Overnight stays in a very special atmosphere are possible here. Klosterkirche Mühlberg Altstädter Markt 9 | 04931 Mühlberg T. 035342 87784 [email protected] | www.kloster-marienstern.de OpeningTimes Mon – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 35 MÜHLBERG/ELBE Museum Mühlberg 1547 Museum Mühlberg 1547 MUSEUM VISIT Guided tour of the exhibition at Museum Mühlberg 1547 every Wed at 18:00 Price p.p. €5 (April to Sep) Meeting point: Fountain on Altstädter Markt Evening walk experience in the medieval twin town every Wed at 21:00 (April to Sept) Meeting point: Fountain on Altstädter Markt Price p.p. €2 – €3.50 36 Even small places can make history – as can be seen in the town of Mühlberg on the Elbe! In 1547, the Catholic League under Charles V., King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, with their army, defeated the troops of the Protestant Schmalkaldic League in the Battle of Mühlberg. Museum Mühlberg 1547 with its modern exhibition commemorates this battle of pan-European significance as well as the Reformation and other important events in Mühlberg’s history. Mühlberg thus joins the ranks of Reformation towns such as Wittenberg and Torgau. The 1547 battle made Mühlberg an important location in the history of the Reformation. The museum is housed in the convent’s Propstei or Provost’s accommodation from 1531, situated next to the 13th-century Cistercian convent of Mühlberg. The Propstei is not only a space for the exhibition, but at the same time constitutes the largest exhibit itself, featuring large-scale wall and ceiling paintings from the 16th century. Museum Mühlberg 1547 is intended not as a war or battle museum, but rather to explain why Catholics and Protestants fought each other. The museum also houses the town’s Tourist Information. Here, you can book not only museum tours but also guided town walks and tours of the convent. During the Reformation year, the exhibition “Zwischen Pfarrhaus und Ratssaal – Die Reformation in Mühlberg” invites you to explore local events after the battle of Mühlberg from 22 April until 5 November 2017. The exhibition investigates the changes in urban structures and dynamics of power with the waning importance of the local convent. Museum Mühlberg 1547 Museum des Landkreises Elbe Elster Klosterstraße 4 | 04931 Mühlberg/Elbe T. 035342 837000 [email protected] OpeningTimes Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 (Apr – Sep until 18:00) MÜHLBERG/ELBE ✪✫R N SPURHEER SUC A leap into Reformation Mühlberg Kräuterhof Bönitz GUIDED TOWN WALK ALL ABOUT HERBS Join us to explore the time of the Reformation in Mühlberg and the events on the banks of the Elbe. Discover exciting facts about the year 1547, the convent and the poorhouses! Do you know the meaning of the term twin town or what the so-called “Lästersteine” were? After a traditional welcome with “HaynichBrot”, which stems from Mühlberg’s oldest charitable foundation, the tour begins on Altstädter Markt. A visit to the former Cistercian convent from 1228 with its imposing brick-built church is essential. Here, you can take a stroll in the recently decorated cloister with its adjacent ward, passing the refectory, the abbess’ accommodation with its “Juttasaal” hall and the convent fountain. Discover also the poorhouse and the former Propstei, or Provost’s accommodation, from the 16th century, now home to museum Mühlberg 1547. This is where European history was made. The town received the European Heritage Label due to the historical importance of the Battle of Mühlberg in 1547. Löwenapotheke pharmacy in the old town is from 1673 with an interior from 1904. On Neustädter Markt, your gaze turns to the Renaissance town hall from 1543 with its ornamental gables. The population of Mühlberg converted to the Protestant faith in 1539. St. Mary’s Church wows its visitors with a prized altar of Mary, the Goedigen altar, originally from the convent church, and a colourful Luther window from 1911. Guests reach the palace along the former course of the Elbe river and the redesigned port promenade. The Renaissance palace was rebuilt by Maurice of Saxony in 1545 after a fire. Don’t miss Kräuterhof Bönitz – a gem of an educational venue about herbs, a herb farm, herb school, herb garden and café by Kerstin Matausch. Enjoy the plants with all your senses. Talks and courses about herbal medicines and a healthy diet are held in the herb school. Herbs and medicinal plants are made into ointments, tinctures and teas here. The herb garden is home to about 200 different herbs and wild plants. On a tour with the herb lady, visitors learn interesting facts about the herbs’ names, the substances contained and their uses. Kräuterhof Bönitz Blumberger Straße 8 | 04924 Bönitz T. 035341 499849 [email protected] | www.kraeuterfrau.net OpeningTimes Fri 14:00 – 20:00 (from March and by arrangement) Sat – Sun 11:00 – 20:00 (from March and by arrangement) traditional welcome, tour of the old town and the convent, Knissetor and hospital, house tour of Bürgerhaus 1543, new town and Church of Our Lady, Berka family von der Duba, palace with book tableau Treffpunkt Altstädter Markt Mühlberg 2h Dauer €4.50 p.p. Preis Teilnehmer max. 25 participants Includes Booking and Information Katrin Prunk T. 0177 2110440 www.stadt-muehlberg.de/tourismus 37 38 MÜHLBERG/ELBE Mühlberg port Saxdorf Parsonage Garden Neustädter Frauenkirche Saxdorf Parsonage Garden CHURCH VISIT GARDEN ART EXPERIENCE Mühlberg consists of two parts, the Old Town and the New Town from the 14th century. The two were once separated by a secondary channel of the Elbe river. The Renaissance town hall from 1543 is on the Neustädter Markt. Similar to the Propstei, it features elaborate late Gothic ornamental gables. Frauenkirche church, dedicated to St. Mary, was the Neustadt’s parish church. In 1539, the first Protestant pastor started work here. The elongated nave was built between 1487 and 1525 and widens into its broader western tower. The most important decorative feature is the Convent Church’s former altar. It was created in 1569 by Dresden court painter Heinrich Göding and is a typical example of a Protestant confessional altar. A Luther window from 1911 depicts the Reformer. Enjoy the symbiosis of music, painting, nature and garden art in Saxdorf Parsonage Garden. Botanical highlights include a collection of bamboos, many of which are in their most northeasterly location here, as well as a multitude of old rose varieties. A great number of rare peonies, day lilies, clematis and tulips will fascinate not only garden lovers. Saxdorf church, a medieval gem, dates from around 1230. The church was gently restored during the 1970s and 1980s by Hans Peter Bethke, Karl-Heinrich Zahn and a great number of helpers, revealing frescoes on the north-facing wall and the remains of beautiful ornamental paintings in the apse. The church can be visited during garden opening hours (please ask Pastor Zahn for the key). Frauenkirche Mühlberg Neustädter Markt 1 | 04931 Mühlberg T. 035342 566 www.kirchemuehlberg.de OpeningTimes April–Oct Pfarrgarten Saxdorf Hauptstraße 5 | 04895 Saxdorf T. 035341 2152 [email protected] | www.saxdorf.de OpeningTimes Wed 10:00 – 18:00 (April – Oct) Sat – Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (April – Oct) 39 Finsterwalde Finsterwalde is the only singer town in Germany: A good place, therefore, to explore the influence of the Reformation on church music. Luther regarded song as an important instrument of the reformation of the church. Soon after 1517, Protestant church choirs were formed, with the congregation expressing the new faith in song. Finsterwalde cultivates not only spiritual but also secular song to this day. 40 FINSTERWALDE S R PAS E ✬✭TH REISPE TIP Finsterwalde palace Trinity Church Finsterwalde Finsterwalde palace CHURCH VISIT RENAISSANCE ENSEMBLE Trinity Church, a typical Reformation church, was completed as one of the first Protestant churches built in Germany after the publication of the Theses. The north-facing Renaissance gable and the high tiled roof are its defining features. On a visit to the interior, it is worth looking up to contemplate the ribbed vaulted ceiling. The threeaisled hall church is plastered on the outside and features a ribbed vaulted ceiling, a choir closed on three sides on its eastern side and a tower on its western side. It was finished in 1585. The tower has a square base, changing to an octagon further up, and is crowned by a domed roof. The members of the Dieskau dynasty are buried in the church. Hard to believe today, Finsterwalde was a notorious robber knight lair during the 15th century, with a wooden and stone castle and fortifications typical of the time. The palace was built during the 15th century and is attributed to the knight Heinrich von Maltitz. The palace passed to the Dieskau family in 1533. Bergrat Otto von Dieskau was the feudal lord in the years 1533-1597 and added new buildings. The anterior palace has been the seat of the town’s administration since 1885. Extensive restoration work began in the 1990s with the help of the German Urban Development Fund and is nearing its completion. The Renaissance ensemble of palace, town hall and Trinity Church is unique. Ev. Kirchengemeinde Finsterwalde Schloßstraße 5 | 03238 Finsterwalde T. 03531 2373 [email protected] | www.kirche-fnsterwalde.de i Schloss Finsterwalde Schloßstraße 7/8 | 03238 Finsterwalde OpeningTimes Mon – Fri 9:00 – 17:00 | Sat – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 41 FINSTERWALDE Singer and Grocery Museum MUSEUM VISIT Finsterwalde is Germany’s only singer town. Get to know the Finsterwalde singers in the Singer and Grocery Museum. They owe their existence to a popular Berlin burlesque of 1899. Visitors to the museum experience the history of communal singing from the Middle Ages to the present day. Authentic exhibits and imaginative stagings convey the history of the impact of song. Grocer Wittke opened his general store on this site in 1850. Today it forms the core of the exhibition on the history of the grocery trade. From 10 June to 31 October 2017, a special exhibition on the varied impact of the Reformation on church music is held here, called “Musikam habe ich allzeit lieb gehabt”, and offering an opportunity to learn more about the history of Protestant choirs. It will not only present the Finsterwalde choir regulations from 1616 but also musical instruments from the 17th century. Sänger- und Kaufmannsmuseum Finsterwalde Lange Straße 6/8 | 03238 Finsterwalde T. 03531 30783 [email protected] OpeningTimes Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00 (April – Sep until 18:00) Lusatia’s lying Eiffel tower THE F60 Lichterfeld is home to a giant of engineering: 502 meters long, 204 meters wide, 80 meters high and weighing 11000 tonnes, former conveyor bridge F60 tells of past and present of Lusatia’s lignite mining industry. Enjoy not only dizzying heights and a wonderful view but also concerts, abseiling, fireworks and many other events. Besucherbergwerk F60 Bergheider Straße 4 | 03238 Lichterfeld T. 03531 60800 [email protected] | www.f60.de OpeningTimes Mon – Sun 10:00 – 18:00 (April – Oct) Sat until 22:00 (May – Aug) Wed – Sun 11:00 – 16:00 (Nov – March) Special opening times are available on request. F60 conveyor bridge 42 FINSTERWALDE ✮✯R N SPURHEER SUC vFinsterwalde market square Guided tour of the singer town TOWN WALK On every town walk in the Town of Singers Finsterwalde you will be greeted by one of the four Finsterwalde singers. You will get to know the town through the singer’s interesting stories from the town’s history and entertaining anecdotes about its buildings and people. You are very welcome to begin the town walk with a helping of Finsterwalder Stimmenöl, the local liqueur. That way, joining in with the singing will be a lot easier. During the Luther Year, you will be able to find out a lot about the history of the Reformation in Lower Lusatia. Finsterwalde’s town church “St. Trinitatis” is a true little gem. The church is one of the first post-Reformation church buildings in Germany and is an important building for the Protestant church during the Luther Year. When booked in advance, these town walks can be combined with a tour of the inns in Finsterwalde’s town centre. There are five different inns and innkeepers to experience. A sample of their respective specialty products is of course an option. Or you could combine the town walk with a visit to Finsterwalde Museum. Here, you can explore the mercantile history of the Town of Singers in the Wittke family’s original corner shop or you can follow the development of choral music from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In 2017, there will be a special exhibition on the topic of Protestant choirs. Price €30 p.p. for up to 12 participants (from 13 participants €4 p.p. | from 30 participants €3 p.p.) €25 p.p. Inn Tour (minimum 10 participants, maximum 25) €4 p.p. Visit to the Singer and Grocery Museum €2 p.p. reduced 500 years of beer BREWERY TOUR A visit to Finsterwalde brewery is recommended after the invention of the Luther beer: unfiltered and unadulterated beers. Enjoy hearty food and drink or visit the brewery by appointment. Finsterwalder Brauhaus Sonnewalder Str. 13 | 03238 Finsterwalde T. 03531 2286 [email protected] | www.fnsterwalder-brauhaus.de i 43 M A R K E N - PAT E N v Brand Partner products Brand Partners THE REGION BECOMES A BRAND The lands of the Luther Pass offer a number of very special products. A nut mix as a snack, coffee gently roasted locally, a cake creation, hand-made mustard and jewellery or a special fruit spread are just some of the wonderful Pass Partner creations. Even floral greetings from the lands of the Luther Pass are available, all with the special flavour of the Luther Pass recipe. 44 Excitement about the unifying effect of the pink travel guide is spreading to more and more regional suppliers and the basket of goods is ever increasing. All these companies are brand partners, marketing their specially selected high-quality products with the Luther Pass signet. Guests recognise the products from their catchy and familiar Luther Pass layout – and they are available everywhere between Lutherstadt Wittenberg and Finsterwalde. It pays to discover! Either as a small gift for those at home or as an additional souvenir of your personal journey on the trail of the Reformation. Further information at: www.lutherpass.de (Advantages for Pass holders) PA S S - PAT E N Recognitions EXCELLENT REGIONAL MARKETING Winner pro agro Marketing 2017 rural and nature tourism WINNER OF Marketing Award Ostdeutscher Sparkassenverband (East German association of savings banks) “Leuchttürme der Tourismuswirtschaft” (Beacons of tourism) 2017 v Provisions Pass-Paten or Passport Godparents munity, be it the free drink with your meal, the reduced-price lodging or the custom jam making. The pass partners are regional THE PASS AS A DOOR-OPENER companies who put a lot of thought into how to excite visitors A passport opens borders. The Luther Pass wants to do the same. even more about their home, the Luther Pass region. In addition to accompanying you on the cross-border search for Further information at: the Reformation, the Pass offers a little more: It gives access to www.lutherpass.de (Advantages for Pass holders) memorable experiences, to attractive offers and to reductions only open to passport holders. Watch out for the Luther signet or simply keep your Pass with you at all times. This is the only way for visitors to benefit from the dedication of the Luther Pass com- 45 W W W. L U T H E R PA S S . D E Berlin ca. 100 km Lutherstadt Wittenberg Elbe Leipzig ca. 70 km lde Mu 46 ÜBERSICHTSKARTE Luther-Tetzel-Weg Reformation between Elbe and Elster Between electoral palaces and pious monasteries Jüterbog Luther stamp station Fotobox Luther-Tetzel-Weg Berlin-Leipzig Cycle Route Cycle tours of historic town centres Elbe Cycle Route Herzberg (Elster) Black Elster Cycle Route Finsterwalde Coal, wind & water tour Sch r lste ze E war Doberlug-Kirchhain Elbe Kle ine Els ter Torgau Bad Liebenwerda Mühlberg / Elbe Dresden ca. 100 km 47 Contact LUTHER PASS Landkreis Elbe-Elster | Büro Landrat Marketing-Koordinatorin | Janine Kauk Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 2 | 04916 Herzberg T. 03535 461240 F. 03535 462662 [email protected] www.lkee.de CULTURE AND EVENTS Landkreis Elbe-Elster Kulturamt Ludwig-Jahn-Str. 2 | 04916 Herzberg T. 03535 465101 F. 03535 465102 [email protected] www.lkee.de TOURISM AND LODGINGS Tourismusverband Elbe-Elster-Land e.V. Markt 20 | 04924 Bad Liebenwerda T. 035341 30652 F. 035341 12672 [email protected] www.elbe-elster-land.de 48
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