Mansfeld

Located in the eastern Harz foreland, the unified municipality of Mansfeld, which is best known as the home of Martin Luther, is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luther Memorials. More precisely, it is located in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz in Saxony-Anhalt and is home to around 8,432 inhabitants (as of 2023) in an area of approximately 143 km2.

Mansfeld Castle with the castle church

Mansfeld Castle, which has been the seat of the Mansfeld counts since the 11th century and was first mentioned in a document in 1229, lies high above the town on the Schlossberg. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Counts of Mansfeld split into three lines and built three impressive Renaissance castles, which were surrounded by the most modern fortifications of the time: Mansfeld "Vorderort", "Mittelort" and "Hinterort". The fortress was then besieged during the Thirty Years' War and razed in 1674-75, with the castles themselves remaining intact but subsequently falling into ruin due to the bankruptcy of the Mansfeld family. The Mansfeld Castle church conference centre was finally established in 1947 when it was handed over to the Protestant Church. Since 1999, however, the Förderverein Schloss Mansfeld e.V. has been running the Christian youth education and meeting centre Schloss Mansfeld within the time-honoured walls. Today, the castle offers a unique setting for conferences, seminars, school trips, celebrations and even weddings in the historic conservatory.

The well-preserved castle church, also located on the castle hill, where Martin Luther once preached, is also worth a visit, with the altarpiece from the Cranach School being a particular visual highlight. As an art and historical monument, the church is now of national importance.

Even the castle café in the guard's parlour allows visitors interested in history to learn more about the castle's eventful history over a coffee or a delicious piece of cake.

Sights with a connection to Martin Luther

As the history of the town was characterised in particular by mining and the extraction of copper slate to produce silver and copper, the Luther family was drawn to Mansfeld as a result. The later reformer spent a significant part of his childhood here and ultimately called Mansfeld his home for the rest of his life.

Probably one of the most relevant sights in relation to Luther's life is his former childhood home, which today serves as a museum and provides visitors with vivid information about Luther's childhood and the history of the Reformation. From everyday family life or the clothing of the time to typical meals, visitors can gain unique insights into Luther's everyday life here.

In the centre of the town, you will also find the Luther Monument and the Luther Fountain, which was built in 1913 in Art Nouveau style by Paul Juckhoff from shell limestone and shows events from the life of Martin Luther on three bronze plaques.

Luther's home church of St George, which dates back to the 14th century and spans the Mansfeld valley, also bears witness to Martin Luther's work and is well worth a visit. In addition to tombs of the Counts of Mansfeld, visitors can see altarpieces from the pre-Reformation period and a full-length portrait of Luther from the Cranach workshop. The gallery with 49 picture panels and the ornate carved altars from the 15th century are also worth a visit.

The Luther Trail

The so-called Luther Trail runs through the middle of the beautiful Mansfeld-Südharz region and is 81 kilometres long in total. It leads hikers past places where the Reformation was active, including the aforementioned parental home. Travelling from the wine-growing areas via the Luther town of Mansfeld to the southern Harz region, hiking enthusiasts can get to know the home of the Reformer in depth.

Mansfeld town hall

Don't miss the Mansfeld Town Hall, which was completed in 1902 and now houses the municipal administration of the unified municipality. The rectorate (left part of the building) was used as a town school in the 16th century, as evidenced by the archways and portals with inscriptions and ornate reliefs. There is also a permanent exhibition about the naturalist Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn on the upper floor of the town hall.