In 1502, Elector Frederick the Wise founded a university. Seeking to make the University of Wittenberg a leading center of learning, he recruits the most learned men he could find. Six years later, in 1508, he recruits Martin Luther to be professor of theology. This would be Luther's residence until he died in 1546.
Here we must step back and look at the real Luther. Populism loves a simple monk shaking his fist at the pope. The truth is, Luther was a respected scholar and theologian. He was a full-time professor at the University. He knew both law and theology. He was well versed in music, languages, and literature. And the fact that Dr. John Eck was appointed to debate Luther certainly speaks volumes about Luther's stature in his day. The church would hardly have sent its best debater to debate a simple monk.
In 1517, Dr. Luther would change church and world history when he nailed his 95 theses on the Castle Church door.
Wittenberg was the starting point of the Lutheran Reformation movement and was one of the historical, intellectual, and cultural centers in Europe. Besides Martin Luther, personalities like Philipp Melanchthon, Johannes Bugenhagen, Justus Jonas, Lucas Cranach the Older, and Lucas Cranach the Younger made impressions on the humanistic intellectual life of the capital city.
The city has available many cultural, historical, and interesting buildings. However it does not survive just from its history. The favorable business trade locations were the basis for the creation of a flourishing economy.
The beautiful Renaissance city hall forms the center of the market place, which through lucky circumstances and smart decisions had its exterior appearance preserved to today.
Wittenberg in 1180 was originally first mentioned as a ward of the court, then about 100 years later was recognized as a city. The middle class, who wanted to demonstrate their prosperity, had the old frame work city hall demolished and in this spot had the city hall constructed that appears today. In 1535, the building activity for that was completed.
In 1573, the court portal was added, where justices were honored. From this balcony new laws were proclaimed and court verdicts publicly carried out for the Wittenberg citizens. The last court action of this kind in Wittenberg took place in 1722 against the poison murderer Susanne Zimmermann, who was publicly broken on the wheel. The four light paving stones still remind us today of the spot where once the scaffold had stood. Under the roof, the city hall contains a large granary, so that the population inside of the city walls could also be provided for in times of need or times of siege. Of these times, we are reminded by the existence of "cat stones". If these were opened the cat claws could still function and fat mice chased after even if the granary gates were closed.
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