Description: Schlosskirche or Castle Church was intended for the royalty of Wittenberg Castle,
so no expense was spared. Built in the 15th Century and rebuilt in the 19th after a fire,
the natural materials used in its construction needed no painting. The interior exudes
sheer natural beauty, so much more imposing, it seems, than wooden interiors that depend
on applied color for their decoration--those were built for commoners! Walking directly
from
Stadtkirche or City Church, where Luther was married, to
Schlosskirche, where he is buried, we appreciated the elevation in rank of a life
well-lived. He and his friend Melanchthon rest in the floor close to the altar, while
Wilhelm II occupies a position further back.
This is the church where Luther nailed his "95-Theses" to the door in 1517 and thereby
launched the Reformation. The historical significance of this act is commemorated by
UNESCO with its designation of Schlosskirche as a World Heritage Site. Burned in the
fire, the original doors were replaced in 1858 with bronze ones that bear the text of the
Theses in Latin. They are protected with iron fencing, and the entrance is further along.
We walked all around the church and castle and enjoyed the grounds and saw the stairs in
back to a hostel. We didn’t visit the Castle, but noted that the restaurant there looked like
an inviting spot. From the back, we had a good view of the roof of the church, one of
those colorful tile roofs that command notice.
Inside, we were astounded by Germanic beauty. Walls of stone with decorative carving
revealed just a touch of inlaid color repeated in the high ceiling and along the carved
balcony railings with inlain family crests. The stained glass was especially beautiful and
curved around the altar and continued throughout the church with less color. The altar of
carved stone was ornate with statuary in lieu of painting on canvas, which must have been
burned in the fire. Alabaster statuary lined the vestibule. The church is an aesthetic
treasure as well as a historic one.
Schlosskirche is open 7 days until 4pm November through April and until 5:00
May through October. Her sharp, black Germanic spire can be seen a few blocks away
down Collegienstrasse, which apparently turns into Friedrichstrasse, the proper address.
We thought it was all one street and had no trouble finding all the Luther sites lined up in a straight line on the same street. There is no admission, except for a pittance for guided tours.
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