Contact

Luthers Geburtshaus
Lutherstraße 15
06295 Lutherstadt Eisleben
T. +49 (0) 34 75 – 714 78 14
F. + 49 (0) 34 75 – 714 78 13
geburtshaus@martinluther.de

Martin Luthers Birthplace

Martin Luther came into the world on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben. He was baptised the following day in St. Peter's Church. The unassuming town house where he was born, also from the 15th century, was largely destroyed when a fire swept through Eisleben in 1689. The council then acquired the land and had the property rebuilt. An exhibition for Lutheran pilgrims was also added in this period, which makes the house one of the oldest museums in the German-speaking world.

In 1693, a school for the poor opened in the house. It was open to anyone who could not afford the state school fees. In 1817, the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III had a new school built in the courtyard - the Lutheran School for the Poor. The building is an unusually early example of neo-Gothic architecture.

In 1996, the house where Luther was born and the house where he died (also a museum) became part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Between 2005 and 2007, the birthhouse underwent extensive restoration and was extended with a Danish brickwork annexe.

"Martin Luther and Eisleben", an exhibition in the house explores Luther's roots and builds up a picture of his family. Around 250 exhibits shed light on the great reformer's background, his father's mining interests, and the piety and religious zeal of the Middle Ages. Luther's baptism, the most important event of his life in Eisleben, also comes under the spotlight, and the baptismal font from 1518 is a major part of the exhibition. Paintings of the God's Acre cemetery in Eisleben during the latter half of the 16th century are another highlight, and reveal a great deal about life in Eisleben during Luther's lifetime. On the ground floor, you can take a look inside the apartment where Luther's family lived. Historically accurate and with furniture made using medieval tools, it offers an insight into 15th century life.