Luther Trail: Section 02 – From Glasbachgrund near Steinbach to Schmalkalden

The Luther memorial in Glasbachgrund is an obelisk approx. 10 metres high, which was donated by the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. The memorial commemorates the fake kidnapping of Martin Luther, who was under an imperial ban, when he was travelling back from the Diet of Worms to Wittenberg on 4 May 1521. From here, Luther was taken to Wartburg Castle, where, disguised as ‘Junker Jörg’ (Squire George), he quickly completed his translation of the New Testament. At the Luther memorial you can also see the Lutherbuche beech tree and the spring, which is known to the locals as the ‘Lutherborn’.

From Luthergrund, this section of the Luther Trail takes you along the Rennsteig Trail through Brotterode to Schmalkalden with its Luther house and St George’s Church where Luther once preached. In the former vestment chamber above the vestry (today known as the ‘Lutherstube’), Martin Luther is said to have kept warm during the morning service when he stayed in Schmalkalden in February 1537. Today the room features pictures of plants on the ceiling and houses a small church museum.