Visiting Wittenberg 500 Years Later

The year 2017 was a big one in Reformation History...on 31 October 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Since we already had a reason to be in Berlin for a conference, and Wittenberg is just a 40 minute train ride away, we couldn't let the year slip by us and not get in a visit!

We rode the train into Wittenberg and the station is on the far east side of the town. As we walked west through town, one of the first places we saw was where Martin Luther burned the papal bull that gave him 120 days to recant his heretical propositions.

A drawing on part of what was the old town wall.

We just missed this concert...would have been great!

Walking down one of the main streets toward the Castle Church.

We've arrived! The Castle Church is right behind us now.

The archway/door where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses. The original doors burned down 250 years ago, but they were replaced with metal doors and the 95 Theses are cast onto the doors for you to read.

In the Visitors Center is a computer showing a historical timeline and also asking where you are visiting from...technically, we are Americans, from the United States...

But, we were also visiting from Kyrgyzstan!

Walking into the Castle Church.

The view to the front of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

A memorial to Martin Luther, he is also buried in this church.

Looking up, the ceiling art is beautiful.

The organ at the back of the church.

Emily and I taking our obligatory "usie."

Family picture at the altar in the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg, Germany

Family picture time in front of the door of the Castle Church.

Group picture!

This is the City Church in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther actually preached on a more regular basis. It is in the middle of town, by the market square.

A closer view of the altar. I was amazed at all of the Moravian stars that we saw in the churches and individual homes around town. We live in Winston Salem, NC when we are back in the US and have a large Moravian presence there as well.

The organ in the back of the City Church in Wittenberg.

Indy, finding the Luther Rose all around town.

A visit to Martin Luther's house, where he lived with his family and housed many, many students during his day.

We were able to visit Wittenberg with some fellow Tapestry of Grace friends that drove 3 hours to meet us, just for the day! We all loved it and the kids became fast friends!

In the dining room of Martin Luther's house, where many a theological discussion took place. Many of these discussions were later published in a book, "Luther's Table Talk."

Again, looking up at the ceilings...I love to do that, they used to take such time and care on what we today would consider such a little detail.

One of the original copies of Luther's translation of the Bible into German.

One of the original copies of "A Mighty Fortress is our God." 

Friends taking a break in the Luther House.

The amount of original copies of pamphlets, responses, hymnals, seals, and even scrolls, etc. that the Luther House houses makes for a large Reformation era library. Someone coming to do a dissertation would be highly impressed.

The sun broke through on what was otherwise a rather hazy day.

The outside of Martin Luther's house...even in his day, it was one of the largest in town, housing many students and guests all year round.

Next, we went up the street to Philip Melanchthon's house. Another Reformation theologian, author of the Augsburg Confession, and friend of Martin Luther. They had several "hands on" activities for the kids, including some clothes to try on.

The inside of his house. All of his furnaces were made of green marble. He also housed students from the local University, where he taught, but never as many as Martin Luther.

Another collection of original writings and manuscripts.

The famous painting that was harmed during WWII and with some faithful restoration work, you can barely tell what parts were torn out and later restored and which parts are original.

The kids, pretending to be reformers in Wittenberg.

The Christmas tree in the entry way of the Brauhaus, where our friends were staying and where we ate dinner...traditional German fare like bratwurst and schnitzel!

Meeting with friends and family is always the best. SO thankful they were willing to drive 3+ hours each way to come and visit with us. We got along and connected with each other so quickly.

Switching out the camera!

Me with my friend, Emily.

Dinner....schnitzel!

A Day in Berlin

We were so excited to spend a day in Berlin! Because we just had a short time, we tried to fit in as much as we could...a visit to the Pergamon Ancient History Museum, the German History Museum, then a walk to Checkpoint Charlie and seeing the old segments of the Berlin Wall, then over to the Topography of Terror to learn about the rise of the SS and Gestapo in Nazi Germany, followed by a visit to the Memorial for Jews Murdered in Europe, a walk to the Brandenburg Gate, and then a tour of the Reichstag building finished up our day.

You aren't able to visit the Pergamon Altar right now, because of restoration and construction, but the Ishtar Gate was so incredible to see and walk through.

A close up of some of the blue tiles.

And, a bit closer. The colors for a 2600+ year old gate, built under Nebuchadnezzar II (the famous one that we all know from the Bible,) as part of his beautification plan for Babylon, are incredible.

To learn more about the Ishtar Gate, you can check out the Wikipedia article here.

The Market Gate of Miletus, another incredible structure to view, inside of a museum! I believe they said this was the largest architectural reconstruction ever done inside of a building.

You can see Indy here, so you can only imagine how large this gate is when you're standing there and looking at it. Part of it was damaged during WWII, but they did extensive reconstruction on it and it is an impressive sight.

Walking back through the Miletus Gate, you see the rest of the Ishtar Gate processional.

The walk way that people had to take to enter the gate, and the city of Babylon, got incrementally more impressive.

This is a mock up of what the processional way, entering the large Ishtar Gate, would have looked like back in the 6th Century BC.

I can't remember where this, and it's matching creature on the other side of the doorway, are from, but they were mighty large and interesting to look at.

I am so glad these two are friends.

One of the prayer niches you can see in the Islamic art section of the Pergamon Museum

A wooden dome facade from the Middle East, the detail work was so intricate.

The famous Mshatta Facade from Jordan, that was given to Emperor Wilhelm II by the Ottoman Sultan.

The carpet displays in the Pergamon were beautiful.

The Aleppo Room, built by a Christian citizen of the town of Aleppo in Syria in the early 1600's.

The detail work on the walls of this meeting room are lovely. 

After the Pergamon Museum, we went to the German History Museum. I only took a few pictures there, and there was a lot of reading to do!

There were so many beautiful churches in Berlin. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to visit any of them. Maybe next time.

Leaving Museum Island.

Checkpoint Charlie.

Leaving the American Sector and heading over to see sections that are left of the Berlin Wall.

Reading the history of the Berlin Wall and escape attempts from East to West Berlin.

Understanding how Berlin was dissected following WWII at the Checkpoint Charlie site.

One of the portions of the Berlin Wall that we were able to see.

Leaving the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, we saw different street vendors selling old WWII items.

Some old hats and uniforms for sale.

A short walk away from Checkpoint Charlie, with another section of the Berlin Wall visible behind us, is the Topography of Terror. It is built on the site of the old Gestapo headquarters.

Krypto reading some of the history displays.

After this, we went over to the Memorial for Jews Murdered in Europe, but we didn't take any pictures there. It was a quiet and sobering display and memorial site.

Almost to our final stop for the day, we got to walk up to the Brandenburg Gate. It was already being gated off for the New Years celebration in a couple of days, so we couldn't walk up to it or through it. The size and view are wonderful though.

As we walked around it, to make our way to the Reichstag for our 8pm English speaking tour, we took a closer view of the columns and the top of the gate.

During our tour of the Reichstag building you can see old graffiti left by Soviet soldiers upon the walls of the famous government building. 

The office for the current German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

A piece of art, Archive of German Members of Parliament...displaying all the names of everyone who has ever been elected to the German parliament, including the Nazis, starting in 1919...then there is a gap when there was no Reichstag, then it begins again from 1949 until 1999.

Looking up into the dome from the floor of the room where the parliament meets.

The meeting floor.

Walking up inside of the dome.

A view of the Brandenburg Gate standing outside of the dome.

Family shot, at night, on top of the Reichstag building.