Reformation

Torgau was the political center of the Reformation, from which numerous impulses emanated. Many important decisions were made in this former Electoral Saxon residence town.

Martin Luther spent a total of 60 times in Torgau, where the electors at Hartenfels Castle and a wealthy bourgeoisie supported his ideas and thus contributed significantly to the implementation of the Reformation.

“Wittenberg is the mother and Torgau the nurse of the Reformation” - Philipp Melanchthon

Martin Luther preached in Torgau for the first time in 1521. After his courageous appearance in Worms, he was celebrated by the citizens of Torgau and received great support in the town throughout his life. His teachings found fertile ground here. In total, around 60 of Martin Luther's stays in Torgau are documented.

Porträts von Martin Luther mit schwarzem Hut und Katharina von Bora mit Haube, beide vor grünem Hintergrund

Katharina von Bora and eleven other nuns fled from Nimbschen Abbey on Easter night 1523 with the help of Leonhard Koppe, a councillor and merchant from Torgau. After a short stay in Torgau, nine of them made their way to Wittenberg. For Katharina, Torgau was not only the first stop on her path to civil life, but also the last of her life's journey. Fleeing from the plague, she had an accident on the way from Wittenberg to Torgau and died on December 20. She found her final resting place in the town church of St. Mary in Torgau. The only memorial to the wife of the great reformer is located in the house where she died, today Katharinenstraße 11. The exhibition in the Renaissance house tells of her eventful life at Martin Luther's side and commemorates this courageous, strong woman, whose biography repeatedly served as inspiration for numerous novels.

Gedenktafel in Torgau mit goldener Schrift, die die Torgauer Artikel von 1530 erwähnt, verfasst von Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas und Bugenhagen.

Blick durch eine geöffnete Tür in einen historischen Raum mit Holzfußboden, Decke mit Holzbalken und Ausstellungsvitrinen

Grabplatte der Katharina Luther in der Stadtkirche St. Marien mit einer steinernen Figur in mittelalterlicher Kleidung und einem Buch in den Händen

Altar aus weißem Stein mit Kerze in der Schlosskapelle, Holzbänke und bemalte Decke im Hintergrund

Tafel mit der Aufschrift 'Schlosskapelle' und Hinweis auf Einweihung am 05.10.1544 durch Martin Luther als erster protestantischer Kirchenneubau

Martin Luther and the Reformation in Torgau:

The first Protestant church hymnal was published in 1524 by the Torgau cantor Johann Walter in close collaboration with Martin Luther. The tradition of Protestant church music lives on in Torgau to this day and is cultivated through top-class concerts.
In 1526, Protestant princes founded the Torgau League to resolutely defend religious freedom.
Under the leadership of Martin Luther, the Protestant visitation regulations were drawn up in Torgau in 1527. Two years later, in 1529, Luther came to Torgau in person to carry out the first school and church visitation.
In 1530, Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, Justus Jonas the Elder and Johannes Bugenhagen wrote the Torgau Articles, which served as the basis for the Augsburg Confession, in the superintendent's office building.
Elector John Frederick the Magnanimous issued a protective edict from his Torgau residence in 1534, which secured the printing of the complete edition of the Bible in Wittenberg.
On October 5, 1544, Martin Luther consecrated the Torgau Castle Church. It is the only church that the reformer himself ever consecrated. Its architecture still reflects the fundamental principles of Protestant church doctrine today.
Johannes Luther, Martin Luther's eldest son, was sent to the prestigious Torgau Latin School in 1542. The youngest son, Paul Luther, later married Anna von Warbeck from Torgau.

In the Footsteps of the Reformation

Immerse yourself in the exciting history of the Reformation and experience Torgau from its most fascinating side. Our themed city tours bring the era to life - with historical locations, exciting stories and unique insights.

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