Schloss Wittenberg, Electoral castle in Wittemberg, Germany
Schloss Wittenberg is a former electoral residence in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, built in a late Gothic style with a tower topped by a green copper dome that stands out over the town. The ground floor houses an information center, while the upper floors are home to a research library focused on Reformation history.
The castle was first recorded in 1187 and became the residence of Elector Frederick the Wise in 1422. Its role as the seat of Saxon authority placed it at the heart of the events that led to the Reformation in the early 16th century.
The bronze entrance doors display Luther's 95 theses in Latin, making them one of the most visible traces of the Reformation at this site. Visitors stand directly in front of the text that changed the course of church history.
Access to the upper floors is by stairs, so comfortable shoes are a good idea before visiting. Starting with the information center on the ground floor gives a clear overview of the building before heading further inside.
The library held within the castle contains around 220,000 volumes on Reformation history, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in Germany. Much of the collection is not on public display but is reserved for scholarly research.
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