Luther Trail: Section 07 – From Gotha to Arnstadt

It is said that while Martin Luther was in Gotha, the devil threw stones at him. As Luther was preaching in the Augustinian Church, some rubble fell from a gable. However, he didn’t take it personally and continued to visit Gotha, where in 1537 he dictated his first will and testament whilst gravely ill. According to the will, he wished to be buried in the town. It was also here in Gotha that Friedrich Myconius took up the reins of the Reformation.

In addition to Bad Langensalza and Erfurt, one of the three Augustinian Monasteries was founded in Gotha. The Augustinian Monastery is one of the oldest in Thuringia. In the collection at Friedenstein Castle there are many artefacts from the Reformation era, including the panel painting ‘Damnation & Salvation’ (1529) by Lucas Cranch the Elder, who was a close friend of Luther’s. The subject of the painting refers to Luther’s thesis on the justification of sinners before God alone.

In Wandersleben we recommend visiting the Menantes-Literaturgedenkstätte (Menantes literary memorial) and Burg Gleichen Castle. From there the route takes you via Mühlberg to Holzhausen and Wachsenburg Fortress. It is also worth visiting the 1st German Sausage Museum, which features an exhibition on the history of the Thuringian sausage. Free samples are, of course, included!

In Arnstadt the Luther Trail splits and leads north towards Erfurt and south towards Paulinzella continuing to the federal state border with Bavaria.