Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Where Lucas Cranach painted Martin Luther
Lucas Cranach the Elder was appointed to the Saxon court in Wittenberg by the Elector Frederick the Wise in 1505. He lived there for almost half a century and created paintings that are now on view in major museums around the world. He painted portraits of the electors and reformers, created altarpieces and small sketches of Venus, Eve and other archetypal heroines. Cranach lived and worked at the Renaissance courtyards in Schlossstraße 1 and Markt 4.
However he not only managed a successful painters’ workshop, but also ran a print shop, took over the only pharmacy in Wittenberg and was granted the right to sell wine and beer. In 1516 he painted the Ten Commandments panel for the Wittenberg town council, which can now be seen in Luther’s House. Cranach himself became a member of the council a few years later, and from 1537/38 was elected mayor several times.
His son Lucas Cranach the Younger later took over the workshop. Father and son worked together on the Reformation altar in St. Mary’s Church, which was inaugurated in 1547. It has been part of a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
The Cranach courtyards had survived through the ages as a remarkable testimony to these times but presented a bleak picture in the latter years of the GDR. Thanks to the commitment of the Cranach Foundation and the restoration funded by the town, the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the German government, the courtyards are now a cultural focal point in the heart of Wittenberg. In 2007 they were recognised as a cultural monument of national importance. The courtyard at Markt 4 has an exhibition on Lucas Cranach the Elder, which is augmented by special exhibitions. Early German paintings from the Anhalt Art Gallery in Dessau are on show until the end of 2014 in an exhibition entitled Lucas Cranach and his time.
Places to visit
Cranach Foundation with the Cranach House and Cranach courtyards Places associated with the family of painters with permanent and special exhibitions, an art school and workshops, an historical print shop, a courtyard café and the Cranach pharmacy.
Cranach hostel – overnight accommodation in the Cranach houses 26 rooms (58 beds) and self-catering accommodation in the former family home (www.cranach-herberge.de).
Luther’s House The exhibition includes numerous original portraits of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach, the exceptional Ten Commandments, a Law and Gospel panel – the symbol of Martin Luther’s theology, and exquisite prints by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
St. Mary’s Church The Cranach altar where Luther held his sermons is surrounded by numerous epitaphs to Lucas Cranach the Younger, who is buried here.
Further information on Lutherstadt Wittenberg in English ...
Guided Tours
Cranach Courtyards
From 1512 onwards Lucas Cranach the Elder bought houses at the market square. The renaissance-style courtyards of the painter’s family are unique houses of an artist. A guided tour through the carefully restored Cranach Courtyards provide an exciting insight into life and work of both masters, of Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Younger, as well as into the history of their premises.
Duration: 1hour
Price: 55 Euro (excl. admission charges)
Meet: Markt 4, 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Reservation via:
Cranach-Stiftung Wittenberg, Markt 4, 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Phone number: +49 (0) 3491 4201911
Preview: Cranach's World
Cultural-historical guided tour through the Cranach Courtyards and the birthplace of Lucas Cranach the Younger with the exposition "Cranach’s World"
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 55 Euro (excl. admission charges)
Meet: Markt 4, 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Guided tours starting from June 27, 2015
Reservation via:
Cranach-Stiftung Wittenberg, Markt 4, 06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Phone number: +49 (0) 3491 4201911
