Torgau

This over 1000-year-old, architecturally impressive city lies in the northeast of the Leipzig region. Hartenfels Castle, a masterpiece in the early Renaissance style of the 15th and 16th centuries, is visible from afar and dominates the cityscape. Once the preferred residence of the Electors of Saxony, later expanded as a fortress by Napoleon Bonaparte and at one point also owned by Prussia, the castle today houses a memorial, exhibitions, and special displays on art, history, and technology. Other must-sees include the Great Wendelstein, the Lapidarium, and the Torgau Castle Chapel. This unique testament to the Reformation was designed according to the ideas of Martin Luther and consecrated by him personally. Further traces of the Reformation can be found throughout the city: by Luther's wife and companion in the Katharina Luther Room, by Georg Spalatin in the Priest's House, and by Lucas Cranach the Elder in the Castle Chapel and the City Church of St. Mary.     

A walk through the restored and almost completely preserved historic old town reveals around 600 individual monuments - mainly from the proud Renaissance era. For example, the mighty town hall on the market square, the magnificent patrician houses, the Mayor-Ringenhain House or the former Electoral Chancellery, now the seat of the City and Cultural History Museum. There are also many small and attractive shops to browse. For example, the Carl Loebner toy shop. The family business was founded in 1685, is now run by the eleventh generation and is the oldest toy shop in Germany.

From Torgau, you can take trips to the Düben and Dahlen Heaths or visit the main Saxon stud farm in Graditz. The stud farm, founded in the 17th century, is one of the oldest horse breeding facilities in Saxony. Its baroque stud farm complex and a small museum on the stud farm's history can be visited.

Tips:

• Stroll along the Torgau Museum Trail: with a look at seven architecturally outstanding and originally preserved monuments from the simple late Gothic period to the magnificent Renaissance era
• Discover the city through the eyes of Katharina von Bora with the audio guide or app

Discover the city through the eyes of Katharina von Bora with the audio guide or app.

You can find tips for families here: www.tic-torgau.de