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GERMANY | Anhalt-Wittenberg, Germany Travel Guide
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A Brief History of Wittenberg
A Brief History of Wittenberg
Wittenberg has a written history reaching back to 1180, but only received township rights in 1293. Like so many other towns and regions in Germany, it belonged to several rulers through the centuries. During Luther’s time, it was part of Saxony- Wittenberg but became part of Prussia after the Napoleonic wars. It suffered tremendous damage during the Thirty Years’ and Seven Years’ wars. After his disastrous loss at the Battle of Leipzig, Napoleon turned Wittenberg into a fortress to halt the advancing Prussian army in January 1814. This resulted in a major artillery assault, but the town has known relative peace ever since.
The Prussians started to conserve the Luther memorials in the late 1800s. In the 1930s, Lutherstadt was officially added to the name to increase tourism potential. Under Communism, Luther was initially out of vogue but made a strong comeback after his rehabilitation in the 1950s. Wittenberg has again become a major attraction since the unification of Germany and all sights are in magnificent condition. In 1996 the Luther House, Melanchthon House, Stadtkirche and Schlosskirche were declared UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Last updated November 4, 2011
Posted in Germany | Anhalt-Wittenberg
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