Town Church | "St. Mary" Wittenberg

Welcome to Martin Luther's preaching church and the mother church of the Reformation. The reformer Martin Luther preached here, as did the first protestant Pastor Johannes Bugenhagen. This is where the tradition of protestant services in German began and is also the cradle of congregational singing. The distribution of bread and wine in Communion as practiced in the protestant church today started here.The Town church of Wittenberg is therefore called the mother church of the Reformation. The church houses artworks from the 19th Century including numerous works of art from the workshop of Lucas Cranach. The Town church, St. Mary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Events | Town church St. Mary Wittenberg

Fixed dates

Service: Sunday 11:00 pm

Devotion: Tuesday - Friday 12:00 noon

Organ Music: Friday 18:00 pm (Easter – October and Advent)

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Buy tickets online: Tickets.

Art works | Lucas Cranach

The Town church of Wittenberg is a treasure trove of art. You will find numerous works from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Younger including the famous Reformation altar. Many objects from the time of the Reformation can still be seen here today.

Opening hours | Guided tours

Opening hours

Summer (April - October)

Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday: 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm

 

Winter (November - March)

Tuesday - Saturday: 12:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sunday: 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm

 

Ticket price: 3,00 € (reduced: 1,00 €)

Combined ticket with Castle church: 5,00 € (reduced: 2,00 €)

 

Guided tours

Guided tours of approx. 45 minutes can be booked with the churchwarden Klaus Pohl.

They cost € 5.00 per person (minimum fee: € 50.00). Telephone: 0049 3491 404415

Public guided tours take place Tuesday to Sunday 2:00 pm.

Bugenhagenhaus | The third Reformer

Johannes Bugenhagen was the first protestant Pastor. Discover his residence and his place of work which is still used as a parish hall today. The friend, comrade-in-arms and Pastor of Martin Luther is considered "The Third Reformer" alongside the latter and Melanchthon. Johannes Bugenhagen's knowledge of Low German dialects helped spread the Reformation as far as northern Germany and Scandinavia. The historic building is located directly opposite the town church and can be visited upon request.

History | City Church of St. Mary Wittenberg

1281 Deed of indulgence to finance the rebuilding of the present two-nave choir loft.
1439 Consecration of St. Mary's Church by the Bishop of Brandenburg on 31 May.
Since 1512 Martin Luther preaches regularly in the town church
Christmas 1521 Celebration of the first Protestant service in German with communion in both forms (bread and wine) for the congregation.
1521/22 Removal of holy images and side altars
March 1522 Luther's Invokavit sermons
1523 Johannes Bugenhagen becomes first Protestant city pastor
13.06.1525 Wedding of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora in the town church
29.10.1525 Luther's German Mass celebrated for the first time
1547 Erection of the Reformation altar
1811 Redesign of the church interior by Ignazio Pozzi after the previous destruction of the furnishings during the Napoleonic occupation
1928 Today's framing of the altar
1983 Renovation of the church for the 500th birthday of Martin Luther, construction of the new organ
11.11.1988 Inauguration of the Place of Remembrance
2009 bis 2016 General renovation of the church