Church of Peter and Paul (Taufkirche), Eisleben 
Martin Luther was baptized in the Church of St Peter and Paul in 1483.
Photo by Stephan Komp.
View of the Taufkirche from the east. Photo by Stephan Komp.
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Just a few steps away from Luther's birthplace in Eisleben is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, where Martin Luther was baptized on November 11, 1483. In German, it's also known as the Taufkirche, "baptism church."
History
The church that stands today was built between 1447 and 1513, but there was a church on this site, dedicated just to Peter, by the end of the 13th century. Martin Luther, who lived very close by, was baptized here on November 11, 1483, the day after his birth.
What to See
The remains of the original baptismal font in which Martin Luther was baptized can still be seen inside the church. It's in the middle of the chancel and bears the Latin inscription, "Rudera baptistierii, quo tinctus est b. Martinus Lutherus 1483."
St Peter and Paul is a fairly austere Gothic hall church, but it contains two beautiful, early 16th-century altarpieces. The one at the high altar is in honor of St. Anne, the patron saint of miners, to whom a young Luther prayed for help during a thunderstorm and vowed to become a monk if she saved him. (She did and he did.)
Decorating the walls are four nice examples of the painted epitaph, an art form that flourished during the early Protestant period. Look for the one to the Heidelberg family - it features a distant view of Eisleben, with Luther and his associates conversing in the middle ground, and in front is a depiction of Redemption and portraits of 18 members of the family.
The nave has cross- and net-vaultings; the arches display trademarks, guild signs, family arms, and the Luther Rose. In the chancel are symbols of the Passion of Christ.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Near the Luthergeburtshaus, Eisleben, Germany |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 10-12, 2-4; Sat 11-4; Sun 11-1. |
| Cost: | Free |
Sources
- The Rough Guide to Germany 6.
- St. Petri-Pauli Kirche - Homepage of St. Andreas, St. Nicolai, St. Petri
