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Eisenach
Thuringia, Germany
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LEFT: St. George, the
patron saint of Eisenach, is honored with a gilded statue on
a fountain in the Markt that dates back to 1549. |
 by
Durant Imboden
Eisenach,
Germany is an important
Luther city for several reasons:
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Martin Luther attended Latin school in Eisenach for three
years, starting at age 15.
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After being declared a heretic and outlaw in 1521, Luther
hid out in Eisenach's Wartburg Castle for
300 days (during which time he translated the New Testament into German and
produced a stack of religious writings).
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The Lutherhaus Eisenach,
where Luther lived as a boarder for three years, has been open to the public
since the late 19th Century. (It's now a museum.)
Still, Martin Luther isn't the only historical figure
whose name brings tourists and pilgrims to Eisenach. The city was also the
birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach,
and the Bachhaus Eisenach is a "must see"
museum for anyone who appreciates the great composer's works.
Eisenach today:
 Eisenach
is an attractive small city of 43,000 inhabitants with a well-preserved Old
Town, a hugely popular
Sommergewinn festival before Easter, a medieval-themed
Luther Festival in August, and plenty of sightseeing opportunities to keep
visitors occupied at any time of year.
Eisenach is also the gateway to the Wartburg region of
Thuringia and is on the
Rennsteig, a hiking and bicycle trail that dates back to the 9th Century.
How long to visit:
We recommend spending at least two nights in Eisenach,
which will give you time to walk around the center and visit some of the most
popular local attractions: the Georgenkirche (where the Bach family were
organists), Wartburg Castle, the
Luther House, and the
Bach House.
If you can stay three nights or longer, you'll get even
more out of your visit.
Next page:
Sightseeing and museums in Eisenach
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