Luther & Protestant Reformation Trail
A road trip tracing Martin Luther's life from Wittenberg via Torgau and Eisleben to Erfurt and Wartburg Castle.
This itinerary connects the places where Luther studied, preached, hid, and died in a logical east-to-west route. Daily driving times are kept under two hours, leaving plenty of time to explore each town. It is ideal for history enthusiasts and church groups. The route can also be done by train, though connections to Torgau and Eisleben are somewhat inconvenient. The trade-off is skipping sightseeing in Berlin and the western sites of Mainz and Worms.
Day by day
Day 1 · Berlin to Wittenberg
Berlin → Dessau & Wörlitz（Luther House, Wittenberg、Melanchthon House、Asisi Panorama Luther 1517）
Pick up your rental car in Berlin in the morning and drive south on the autobahn to Wittenberg (about 110 km, 1.5 hours).
Stay: Wittenberg
Day 2 · Wittenberg Churches & Torgau
Dessau & Wörlitz（All Saints' Church, Wittenberg、St. Mary's Church, Wittenberg） → Torgau → Leipzig
Explore Wittenberg on foot in the morning. At noon, drive to Torgau (about 1 hour), and then continue to Leipzig (about 1 hour).
Stay: Leipzig Old Town
Day 3 · Leipzig: Churches & Music
Leipzig（St. Thomas Church、Bach Museum、Old Town Hall & Market Square、St. Nicholas Church）
Leave your car at the hotel and explore the Old Town on foot. St. Thomas Church and St. Nicholas Church are just a 10-minute walk apart.
Stay: Leipzig Old Town
Day 4 · Eisleben: Birth and Death of Luther
Eisleben → Erfurt（Fischmarkt & Town Hall）
Drive from Leipzig to Eisleben (about 1 hour). In the afternoon, drive to Erfurt (about 1 hour 15 minutes).
Stay: Erfurt Old Town
Day 5 · Erfurt: Monastic Life
Erfurt（Erfurt Cathedral & St. Severus' Church、Krämerbrücke、Augustinian Monastery、Old Synagogue Erfurt）
Spend the day walking through Erfurt's Old Town. The walk from the Cathedral to the Augustinian Monastery takes about 15 minutes.
Stay: Erfurt Old Town
Day 6 · Wartburg Castle: Translating the Bible
Eisenach（Wartburg Castle、Lutherhaus Eisenach、Bach House Eisenach）
Drive from Erfurt to Eisenach (about 1 hour). Walk up to the castle, and return your car or depart by train in the evening.
English-guided tours are available at Wartburg Castle. Arrive in the morning to beat the crowds.