In Saxony alone, around 700.000 Protestant Christians profess their faith. All of this would be unthinkable without the work of Martin Luther. To honor his work and make it accessible to tourists, the Luther Trail Saxony was opened in September 2011. With a total length of 550 kilometers, it is one of the most impressive hiking and pilgrimage trails in Germany.
The Luther Trail Saxony
With a total of 27 stages, the spiritual circular hiking trail leads along the most important places where Martin Luther and his companions lived and worked. If you follow the green "L" on a white background, you will discover the most beautiful landscapes in connection with historical memorials. At central points, the next stations on the Luther Trail are indicated. Additional information boards along the trail also provide insights into the history of the Reformation and the sights in the respective places. Along the way, you can see how the Reformation influenced and shaped the construction of Protestant churches. At the same time, the route invites you to pause and relax. Similar to the Way of St. James, there are opportunities at each station to collect a stamp as a souvenir of the route covered.
Leipzig as the Cradle of the Reformation
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the city of Leipzig was of great importance for the spiritual and economic life of what was then the Electorate of Saxony. The Reformation brought an additional boom in the economy, politics and art. The most important event for the Reformation was probably the Leipzig Disputation. In 1519, a debate took place at the former Pleissenburg, now the New Town Hall, between Johanes Eck, a Catholic theology professor, Andreas Bodenstein, also known as Karlstadt, and Martin Luther. The reason for this conversation was originally a debate about human free will and the grace of God. Eck was invited to this debate by Karlstadt and wanted to defend Wittenberg theology after Luther's posting of his theses on the Wittenberg town church was criticized by Johannes Eck. The more important point, however, was the indulgence trade that Luther had accused of, which was going on at the time. People bought indulgences to buy themselves free from their sins and not have to go to confession. Specifically, Luther was targeting the indulgence preacher Johannes Tetzel, who focused on collecting money as a means of inner repentance. The money collected was used to finance the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. At the end of the debate, no clear winner could be identified - all sides claimed victory for themselves. For Martin Luther, however, the "Battle of Leipzig" was the final break with the Roman Catholic Church.
Numerous memorials in Leipzig's city center still bear witness to Luther's work. For example, St. Thomas Church, with its commemorative plaque, commemorates the Leipzig Disputation, which was opened there by the THOMANERCHOR LEIPZIG (St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig). Furthermore, 20 years later, the church was the site of Luther's sermon introducing the Reformation.
The Thuringian court is also closely connected with the theologian: Luther was a guest several times in the “Studentenburse”, which at the time belonged to his friend Heinrich Schmiedeberg, who left him 100 guilders in his will.
Auerbachs Keller, today one of the most famous restaurants in the world, was already very popular in the 16th century. The owner, Heinrich Stromer von Auerbach, was an avowed humanist and freethinker. He met Luther at a debate and hosted him in his premises - that required great courage at the time. Luther also secretly stopped off at Stromer's on his Reformation journey from Wartburg to Wittenberg as Junker Jörg. All of these events are now depicted in the Luther Room in Auerbachs Keller and are explained in various guided tours.
Not far from Auerbach's Cellar is the Old Town Hall, built by Hieronymus Lotter. Today, the Old Town Hall houses the City History Museum, which has dedicated an exhibition room to the subject of the Reformation. Katharina von Boras' wedding ring and the pulpit from St. John's Church can also be seen there.
Barthels Hof is a little more hidden on the opposite side of the market. In 1539, Luther is said to have preached to the people from the bay window of the house - but this is not proven. The mocking relief on the Fregehaus in Katharinenstraße is also controversial. It shows the emperor, pope and a monk, who is probably meant to represent Luther, as well as the year 1535.
In Hainstrasse, at the Hôtel de Pologne, a memorial plaque indicates that Melchior Lotter, the most respected printer at the time of the Reformation, worked in the previous building. Between 1518 and 1520, over 40 of Luther's writings were printed in his workshop.
Graphic works of a different kind - paintings by Cranach - can be admired in the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig. Among the numerous exhibits is the famous painting "Portrait of Luther as Junker Jörg" from 1521. Even though the reformer had his differences with the trade fair city, Leipzig is a true Luther city. The first Lutheran service took place in the city's largest church, St. Nicholas' Church, in 1539. Luther also preached during several services in the University Church of St. Pauli on Augustusplatz.
The Church Reorganization in the Leipzig Region
The Luther Trail Saxony is characterized by its diverse route: starting in the city of Leipzig, it runs through the region and the surrounding area. At the same time, it also focuses on the women who gave the Reformation movement its own characteristics.
The first stage leads to Eilenburg. Luther was a guest in the "blessed lard pit" several times. The town opened up to the ideas of the Reformation early on, so that Luther preached in the two town churches, St. Nicholas' Church and St. Mary's Church. You can also follow the traces of the Reformation in the Eilenburg Town Museum, where valuable original prints from the Reformation period and a Luther Bible are kept.
Through the Muldenaue, past attractive parks, you reach Löbnitz. A central point of the town is the Protestant church, a brick basilica with the largest ceiling in Germany, which depicts Moses and Jesus, Luther and Melanchthon. Luther was also very good friends with the Löbnitz manor owner Ernst von Schönfeldt and his daughter Ave von Schönfeldt, a nun who had escaped from the Nimbschen monastery. The rest of the route leads to Bad Düben - the gateway to the Düben Heath. This is where the historic case of Hans Kohlhase occurred: in the Schnaditz district lived a gentleman from Zaschnitz, who was remembered for stealing the horse from the merchant Hans Kohlhase. The latter fought for his rights and eventually even asked Martin Luther for advice in a letter. Martin Luther and other reformers often passed through Bad Düben on their way to Wittenberg. The famous Luther linden tree is located in the north of the city: today a new tree has been planted in the place in memory of the original 500-year-old tree, which was destroyed by a fire in the hammer mill. The route continues via Dreiheide to Torgau. In 1536, Luther is known to have visited the Süpitz church, which was built in the 13th century. In the 16th century, the region was also known as a wine-growing area. Luther also regularly received wine from the Elector.
In Torgau, numerous steles lead to the city's Reformation sites - including the house where Katharina von Bora died. Known as the "Reformation City of Europe" since 2015, Torgau looks back on an eventful history. Prince Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous helped the ideas of the Reformation to break through. Hartenfels Castle in particular is considered the manifesto of the Reformation - the castle church there was specially consecrated by Luther on October 5, 1544. Since September 2017, the multimedia exhibition "Standfest. Bible-fest. Drinking-fest. Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous - The last Ernestine Elector" has been open to the public in the castle. The Reformation runs like a thread through the city and its history. In 1530, Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas and Bugenhagen drew up the "Torgau Articles" as the basis for the Augsburg Confession - the fundamental confession of the Lutheran Imperial Estates to their confession. To this day, this is considered the basic text of numerous religious discussions, the basis of the Schmalkaldic League and the basis of tolerance of the Peace of Augsburg. Since 2017, there has also been an exhibition about her life in the house where Katharina von Boras died. The so-called Katharina Luther Room is the only museum dedicated to her. Georg Spalatin's restored priest's house is also part of the list of Reformation sites: the exhibition "Sound and Faith" provides information about the interplay between the Reformation and music and focuses on the "founding father" of Protestant church music, Johann Walter.
Through the Torgau Ratsforst you can reach Belgern-Schildau along small lakes via Staupitz. When the Imperial ban was imposed on Martin Luther in 1521 and he was therefore considered an outlaw, Sitzenroda, a district of Belgern-Schildau, was the first safe stop in the Electorate where Luther did not have to fear for his life.
The Luther Trail continues through the Dahlen Heath until it meets the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Trail in Heyda - both lead to Wurzen. Even though Luther was never there himself, he still left his mark on the town's history: he prevented a war by trying to settle the "Wurzen Feud". The conflict between the Ernestine Electorate of Saxony and the Collegiate Foundation of Wurzen over the collection of money to finance the Turkish wars was, however, calmed down thanks to Luther's mediation. Luther also left his mark on St. Mary's Cathedral, where Protestant services have been held since 1542. Luther can be found both inside and outside: inside the cathedral, on the choir gallery, there is a bronze relief with his image and the beginning of his famous song "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". And in front of it you can also see the famous Luther fountain with a portrait of the reformer.
Another important place of the Reformation is Grimma. In the south of the city lies the district of Nimbschen with the former Cistercian monastery Marinenthron zu Nimbschen. Katharina von Bora lived there for 14 years until she finally fled with other nuns in 1523. Luther himself often visited Grimma and preached in the monastery church until the Protestants gained the upper hand.
Leisnig can be reached via the towns of Colditz and Mügeln. The oldest Protestant social document was created there - the Leisnig Caste Order of 1523. This is still considered an important condition for the formation of Protestant church communities and a model of Lutheran social teaching. The Caste Order regulated the administration of the money that the community collected and kept in a box. In the town estate in the old town, you can now visit an exhibition on the subject in the Luther Room. Not far from Leisnig is the Buch Monastery. It used to be one of the most economically powerful Cistercian monasteries.
After crossing the Mulde, the Luther Trail continues to Döbeln. During Luther's lifetime, Duke George the Bearded, an enemy of the reformer, ruled. It was only after his death in 1539 that the Reformation was able to spread in Albertine Saxony. However, the first Protestant sermon in Döbeln took place in 1521 - not in a church, but in the town hall. The Döbeln church of St. Nicolai now houses a unique gem from the Reformation period: the so-called Mirakelmann. The life-size figure of Christ from 1510 was originally used for the Good Friday liturgy. The church also contains the largest preserved late Gothic carved altar in Saxony. The Luther monument in front of the church looks confidently south towards Rome.
From Döbeln the route continues via Waldheim, Kriebstein, Rochlitz and Penig. The Reformation was introduced in Rochlitz in 1537 by Duchess Elisabeth of Saxony at her widow's residence, Rochlitz Castle. In addition, one of Luther's important companions came from Rochlitz: Johannes Mathesius wrote the biography of the reformer, gave table speeches and was himself a pastor.
The western part of the Luther Trail between Leipzig and Zwickau runs along the Via Imperii. The circular route leads back to the Leipzig area via Wolkenburg, Waldenburg, Glauchau, Zwickau, Crimmitschau and Altenburg. In Borna, Martin Luther wrote the Ash Wednesday letter on March 5, 1522 - a letter to the Saxon Elector Frederick the Wise in which he explained the reasons for his actions. Luther's wife, Katharina von Bora, came from the small town of Kieritzsch near Borna. The Zöllsdorf estate was Katharina's widow's residence, where she produced food for her household in Wittenberg. Today there is a monument there in the market square and the Katharina Luther Church in the Lippendorf district.
In addition to the main route, the Luther Trail Saxony has numerous access routes, for example from Dahlen to Schmannewitz. You can also explore the traces of the Reformation from Hirschfeld to Döbeln. The Luther Trail Saxony is connected to the Luther Trail Saxony-Anhalt via Bad Düben and the Luther Trail Thuringia via the Borna-Gnandstein-Altenburg and Crimmitschau-Altenburg triangle.
For more information visit www.lutherweg-sachsen.de