Luther Sites in Erfurt

Augustinian monastery in Erfurt

Cloister in the Augustinian Monastry
_{Photo: Lutz Edelhoff}

Luther's Dormitory in the Augustinian Monastry
_{Photo: Lutz Edelhoff}

 

Erfurt is the spiritual home of Martin Luther. From 1501 to 1505, he studied at the city's university, which enjoyed great prestige at the time. Luther initially devoted himself to the seven liberal arts, before later turning his attention to theology and – at the request of his father – law.

The life of the young student altered dramatically after he survived a perilous thunderstorm. On 17th July 1505, Luther entered the Erfurt Monastery for Augustinian hermits, an order that was renowned for its erudition. Until autumn 1511, his life as a monk was characterised by a strict and precisely timetabled regime of spiritual and religious rituals, as well as academic study within the order. Luther was ordained as a priest in 1507, reading his first Mass on 2 May that year in the Augustinian church.

Luther's Augustinian monastery, which was secularised after the Reformation, is now a conference centre, lodge and meeting place for the Protestant Church in central Germany. It enjoys a strong reputation in Germany and abroad and has 75 beds and eight meeting rooms. In 2004, the monastery was designated a cultural monument of national importance. 

Visitors to Erfurt exploring the history of Luther are always welcome here. The most prominent attractions are Luther's monk's cell and an important historical library that dates back to 1646.