Martin Luther—a pious monk and fiery orator who became “The Great Reformer”—came from a humble, pastoral corner of Germany’s heartland. It’s a land of half-timbered villages, rolling hills, and fanciful castles ... and where Luther’s bold attempts to reform the Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation over 500 years ago. Along with the Renaissance—and as part of the rise of humanism—the Reformation contributed greatly to the birth of our modern world.
On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther challenged Roman Catholic doctrine by posting his 95 Theses (discussion topics) on a church door. This started a chain of events that would split Western Christian faith, plunge Europe into a century of warfare, cause empires to rise and fall, and inspire new schools of art and thought. In eastern Germany near Leipzig, three “Lutherland” destinations—Erfurt, Wartburg Castle, and Wittenberg—are the top spots for a Luther pilgrimage.
