Torgau is one of the main places in the history of the reformation. Here, the political shift was the Protestant Reformation, important alliances have been forged for the defence of the new faith.
View in the courtyard of the Renaissance castle Hartenfels
Rock on castle hard, no one comes in Torgau. Proudly perched in the magnificent building of the early Renaissance on the river Elbe, and are visible not only for the cyclists on the popular Elbe cycle path. Several million euros have been invested in recent years in the repair of Ensembles. Freshly renovated, the castle chapel, which was consecrated in 1544 by Martin Luther (1483-1546) himself and as the first Protestant Church new construction is presented.
Powerful Friends
Because Luther rock came to the castle hard. After the division of the Wettin lands, the castle was developed, from 1485 to the headquarters of the Ernestine elector of Saxony. While Wittenberg with its 1502 founded the University was the intellectual centre of the dominion range, of Frederick the Wise (1463-1525), was Torgau undisputed political control centre.
Supporter and protector, Frederick the wise of Saxony
“Torgau, the coordination was of the Protestant policy in place,” says the Leipzig Church historian Armin Kohnle. A whole series of historically important decisions had been taken in by the castle of hard rock. There are about 1526 was made the instrument for the Torgauer Bund, which is regarded as the first attempt of the Protestant military Alliance. And in 1530 took place in Torgau important discussions for the establishment of the schmalkaldic League for the defence of Protestantism.
Torgau and Luther
More than 40 visits to Luther’s in the city are demonstrated. Used especially of Frederick’s successor, Johann the steadfast (1468-1532), the reformer, an almost friendly relationship. So he traveled, for example, to the wedding of John’s daughter 1536 to Torgau.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationCastle Hartenfels
The magnificent Renaissance castle on the river Elbe, is the landmark of Torgau. Here is one of the most powerful men in the reformation, resided in front of 500 years of history: Frederick the wise, elector of Saxony. He is the founder of Wittenberg University, and engaged the brightest minds of his time, Martin Luther.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationCastle portal
Luther was often at the castle of hard rock. Frederick the wise supported and promoted the ideas of the reformer, provided for his protection. He staged also the apparent abduction of Luther at the Wartburg, where the work of translating the Bible into German.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationWendelstein
While the elector of Saxony Wittenberg, extensions to the intellectual centre of the Reformation, made it the residence of Torgau, on the political power. Hartenfels castle got a makeover in the style of the Renaissance, at that time, the newest craze. Eye-catching is the Wendelstein, a sleek, freestanding staircase house floor.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationA snail house out of sand stone
Even today structural engineers shake the head in disbelief: how can the almost 20-Meter spiral staircase without a center support? A masterpiece of the Saxon architects.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationCastle Church
The Palace ensemble is also the first Protestant Church building in the world. Martin Luther consecrated in 1544 the chapel, with worship, of course in the German language. With its bright, simple broadcasting of the castle Church, Luther embodies the idea of a house of worship of the new time.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationMarketplace
Right behind the castle, the old town begins. The magnificent patrician houses bear witness to the former wealth of its citizens. With a population of 6,000 Torgau 500 years ago was one of the “big cities”. By today’s standards it’s peaceful, it’ll be just 20,000 people in the city on the Elbe.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationCatherine on the run
Torgau also plays an important role in the life of Katharina von Bora, Luther’s later wife. A sculpture group shows important stations. Here is Nimbschen your flight 1523, from the convent. Your first stop will be in the freedom of Torgau. Two years later, the former nun marries a former monk Martin Luther – what times!
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationKatharina-Luther-Stube
Center of life for the family of Luther at Wittenberg. However, 1552, Luther’s been six years dead, as Catherine flees from the plague of Wittenberg to Torgau. On the way an accident to their Carriage. Catherine dies of her injuries. Her death the house is now a Museum.
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Torgau – Renaissance and ReformationTombstone
20. December 1552 dies, Katharina von Bora, at the age of 53 years. Her tomb is in St. Mary’s Church in Torgau.
The castle was converted in this period for the representative seat. As an architectural masterpiece of the staircase tower of the “Wendelstein” by the master Builder, Conrad cancer that require no load-bearing Central column.
The Permanent Exhibition “Torgau. Residence of the Renaissance and Reformation,” makes the glory of the elector’s court in this architecturally and reformation historically important castle to life. It was designed jointly with the State art collections Dresden (SKD).
The Luther pulpit in the castle Church, hard rock
On the ground floor of the castle is a chapel, which is considered to be the world’s first Protestant Church building is located. Here Luther, in 1544, held for the consecration sermon, in which he established the Protestant worship, understanding theological. Not formulas and rites, but the word of God and the human response therefore the worship of God.
Sound and Believe
Away from the Palace hard rock, there is much more to discover: In the immediate vicinity of Johann’s son and successor, Johann Friedrich I. (1503-1554) the Electoral office building, which became the administrative center. Since 2003, the former administrative home to the city and culture, the seat of the history Museum of Torgau.
Torgau is a Station on the 410-Kilometer-long Lutherweg
But not only the big politics, the culture of the Reformation is located in Torgau. In the town of St. Mary’s Church, just a few steps from the castle, was the “Urkantor” of the Evangelical Church, by Johann Walter (1496-1570). He developed with Luther a new order of worship and wrote many hymns. To 1526 Walter a city choir founded – the first of its kind.
It is dedicated to the exhibition of “sound Faith”. Is housed in a former residence of the theologian and Secretary to Georg Spalatin (1484-1546), which is referred to because of its good connection between Luther and the elector to as the “helmsman of the Reformation”.
Catherine’s Fate City
In St. Mary’s Church, an Epitaph is reminiscent of Luther’s wife, Katharina von Bora (1499-1552). For you in Torgau meant the beginning and the end: As the young nun Catherine in 1523, from the convent of Nimbschen fled, was Torgau, the first stop on your way in a middle-class life. And almost 30 years later, you should be able to find in the city to rest.
City Church of St. Mary – St. Catherine of Boras last resting-place
Catherine had fled in September, 1552, before the plague of Wittenberg, there was an accident in front of the gates Torgaus. In the fall the widow of Luther no longer hurt so much, that they recovered. 20. December it died in the visible today Katharina-Luther-Stube, and was buried in St. Mary’s.
The memory of Catherine will be maintained in Torgau carefully, takes place every year in the summer, a big Feast in their honor, this year it takes place on the 24. June. The event was called the “Luther decade” and will take place in 2017 for the eighth Time.
Luise Poschmann (epd)