View source for Wittenberg

{{short description|Town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany}}
{{distinguish|Wittenberge|Wittenburg}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox German place
|name              = Wittenberg
|German_name       = '''Lutherstadt Wittenberg'''
|type              = Town
|image_coa         = DEU Wittenberg COA.svg
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
 | border = infobox
 | perrow = 1/2/2
 | total_width = 285
 | align = center
 | caption_align = center
 | image1 = Stadtkirche Marktplatz Schlosskirche Wittenberg Luftbild 2024 Toni Klemm.jpg
 | caption1 = View of Wittenberg
 | image2 = Schloss und Schlosskirche Wittenberg Luftbild 2024 Toni Klemm.jpg
 | caption2 = [[All Saints' Church, Wittenberg|Schlosskirche]]
 | image3 = Wittenberger Stadtkirche.jpg
 | caption3 = [[Stadtkirche Wittenberg|Stadtkirche]]
 | image4 = Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo06.jpg
 | caption4 = [[All Saints' Church, Wittenberg#Theses Doors|Theses Doors]]
 | image5 = J41 340 Wittenberg, Lutherhaus.jpg
 | caption5 = [[Lutherhaus]]
 }}
|coordinates     = {{coord|51.8671|N|12.6484|E|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan      = Wittenberg in WB.svg
|state           = Sachsen-Anhalt
|district        = Wittenberg
|elevation       = 67
|area            = 240.41
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 15091375
|postal_code     = 06886
|area_code       = 03491
|licence         = WB
|website         = [http://www.wittenberg.de/ wittenberg.de]
|mayor           = Torsten Zugehör<ref>[https://wahlergebnisse.sachsen-anhalt.de/wahlen/bmbm/index.html Bürgermeisterwahlen in den Gemeinden, Endgültige Ergebnisse], [[Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt]], accessed 9 July 2022.</ref>
|leader_term     = 2022&ndash;29
|party           = Independent 
}}

'''Wittenberg''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|t|ən|b|ɜːr|ɡ|,_|ˈ|v|ɪ|t|-}} {{respell|WIT|ən|burg|,_|VIT|-}}, {{IPA|de|ˈvɪtn̩bɛʁk|lang|De-Wittenberg.ogg}}}} officially '''Lutherstadt Wittenberg''',{{efn|{{IPA|de|ˈluːtɐʃtat ˈvɪtn̩bɛʁk|lang}}, {{lit|[[Lutherstadt|Luther Town]] Wittenberg}}}} is the fourth-largest town in the state of [[Saxony-Anhalt]],  in the [[Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]]. It is situated on the [[River Elbe]], {{convert|60|km|sp=us}} north of [[Leipzig]] and {{convert|90|km|sp=us}} south-west of the reunified German federal capital city of [[Berlin]], and has a population of 46,008 (2018).

Wittenberg has close connections with [[Martin Luther]] (1483–1546) and the 16th century religious / theological movement of [[Protestantism]] begun here in the [[Reformation]], and the large branch of [[Western Christianity]] started here of [[Lutheranism|Evangelical Lutheranism]],  for which it received the honorific title ''[[Lutherstadt]]'' and has been called the "cradle of the Reformation"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://entdecke-deutschland.de/en/bundeslaender/sachsen-anhalt/lutherstadt-wittenberg-the-cradle-of-reformation/ | title=Lutherstadt Wittenberg – the Cradle of the Reformation – Discover Germany | date=18 June 2020 }}</ref> and "cradle of [[Protestantism]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2002/wittenberg-cradle-of-protestantism-500-years-down-the-line/ | title=Wittenberg, Cradle of Protestantism, 500 Years Down the Line | date=24 December 2002 }}</ref> Several of Wittenberg's buildings are associated with the historical  / religious events, including a preserved part of the [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[monastery]] of the local community of the world-wide [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Order of St. Augustine]] in which Luther lived, first as a celibate [[monk]] and later as property owner with his later wife [[Katharina von Bora]] ({{circa|1499}}{{spaced en dash}}1552), and family. Wittenberg was also the seat of the prince [[Elector of Saxony]], a dignity held by the dukes of the [[Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg]], making it one of the most powerful cities in the thousand-years-old [[Holy Roman Empire]] (A.D. c.800 / 962–1806) in Central Europe.

Today Wittenberg is an industrial centre and tourist destination, with an intact historic centre and various additional memorial sites dedicated to Martin Luther and his friend and fellow theologian / reformer Melanchthon, author of the [[Lutheranism|Evangelical Lutheran]] seminal theological document of the [[Augsburg Confession]] of 1530. The buildings associated with those two figures were added to the [[UNESCO]] ([[United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization]]) designated [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]] list in 1996, along with other sites in nearby [[Eisleben]], because of their religious significance and testimony to one of the most influential religious, political and social movements of world history from the [[Middle Ages|Medieval / Middle Ages]] era in the [[History of Europe]].<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/783 |title = Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 3 July 2022}}</ref>

==History==
{{Quote box |width=20em |align=left |bgcolor=GhostWhite
|title=Historical affiliations
|quote={{flagicon image|Coat of arms of Lower Saxony.svg}} [[Duchy of Saxony]] 1180–1296<br />
{{flagicon image|Coat of arms of Saxony.svg}} [[Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg]] 1296–1356<br />
{{flag|Electorate of Saxony}} 1356–1806<br />
{{flagicon image|State flag of Saxony before 1815.svg}} [[Kingdom of Saxony]] 1806–1815<br />
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} 1815–1871<br />
{{flag|German Empire}} 1871–1918<br />
{{flag|Weimar Republic}} 1918–1933<br />
{{flag|Nazi Germany}} 1933–1945<br />
{{flagicon|Allied-occupied Germany}} [[Soviet occupation zone]] 1945–1949<br />
{{flag|East Germany}} 1949–1990<br />
{{flag|Germany}} 1990–''present''
}}

{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| Part_of     = Luther Memorials in [[Eisleben]] and Wittenberg
| Includes    = [[Lutherhaus]], [[Melanchthonhaus (Wittenberg)|Melanchthonhaus]], [[Stadtkirche Wittenberg]] and [[All Saints' Church, Wittenberg]]
| Image       = Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Denkmalensemble Markt.jpg
| Caption     = Market square with [[Stadtkirche Wittenberg]]
| Criteria    = Cultural: iv, vi
| ID          = 783
| Year        = 1996
}}
Historical documents first mention the settlement in 1180 as a small village founded by [[Flemish people|Flemish]] colonists under the rule of the [[House of Ascania]]. In 1260 this village became the residence of the dukes of [[Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg|Saxe-Wittenberg]], and in 1293 the settlement was granted its [[German town law|town charter]] as a free-standing town.

Wittenberg developed into an important trade centre during the following few centuries because of its central location. When the local branch of the Ascanians died out in 1422, control of Saxe-Wittenberg passed to the [[House of Wettin]]. The town became an important regional political and cultural centre at the end of the 15th century when [[Frederick III, Elector of Saxony|Frederick III "the Wise", the Elector of Saxony]] from 1486 to 1525, made his residence in Wittenberg. Several parts of the boundaries of the town were extended soon afterwards. The second bridge over the [[Elbe River]] was built between 1487 and 1490 and the castle church (the ''Schlosskirche'' in German) was erected between 1496 and 1506. The Elector's palace was rebuilt at the same time.

In 1502 , Elector Frederick founded the [[University of Wittenberg]], which attracted some writers such as Luther, —a professor of theology beginning in 1508 — and Melanchthon (1497–1560) — a friend and disciple along with a theologian and professor of Greek starting a decade later in 1518.

On 31 October 1517, according to legend, Luther nailed his [[Ninety-five Theses|"95 Theses"]] against the selling of [[indulgence]]s to the huge wooden double-doors  front entrance (which longtime served as an informal bulletin board for the parish and local academic community) of the [[All Saints' Church, Wittenberg|All Saints' Church / Castle Church]] – an event taken as marking the beginning of the [[Protestant]] [[Reformation]] and the start of a major branch of [[Western Christianity]] of [[Lutheranism|Evangelical Lutheranism]]. The more radical later Protestant group of the [[Anabaptist]] movement also had one of its earliest homes in Wittenberg, when the [[Zwickau prophets]] moved there in late 1521 only to be suppressed by upset and angry Luther when he returned from temporary hiding and exile at the remote hilltop  [[Wartburg|Wartburg Castle]] in the spring of 1522. There he had spent months of time, effort and research into translating the texts in the languages [[Ancient Hebrew writings|ancient Hebrew]], [[Ancient Greek]] and [[Latin]] and manuscripts of the  [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] in the Bible into then common 16th century version of their German language so that the  Christian lay people could read the [[Luther Bible|Holy Scriptures in Luther's Bible]] in their own tongue.
[[File:Wittenberg-1536.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Wittenberg, 1536]]
The [[Capitulation of Wittenberg]] (1547) is the name given to the treaty by which [[John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony|John Frederick the Magnanimous]] was compelled to resign the electoral dignity and most of his territory to the Albertine branch of the noble [[House of Wettin]].
[[File:Uni-WB-1644.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|University of Wittenberg in 1644]]
During the 18th century in 1760, during the [[Seven Years' War]] (1753 / 1756–1763,  the military forces of the [[Habsburg monarchy]] of the [[Austrian Empire]] bombarded the [[Kingdom of Prussia]]'s [[Royal Prussian Army]], which occupied the town. 

Warfare again touched Wittenberg by the [[First French Empire]] of neighboring France far to the west, took control in 1806, during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] (1803–1815) and [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] (1769–1821), (Emperor [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon I]] commanded the refortification of around the edges of town in 1813. The following year in 1814, the [[Prussian Army|Royal Prussian Army]] under [[Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien]] had returned now a half-century later, this time storming the outskirts of Wittenberg; he received the title of "von Wittenberg" as a battle reward. Following the fall and exile of Napoleon in 1814 and 1815, and as a result of the negotiations at the ensuing major European peace conference at the [[Congress of Vienna]], in the capital of [[Vienna]], Austria, Wittenberg and [[Saxony]] was transferred to became part of the [[Prussia|Kingdom of Prussia]] mostly further to the north and east, and administered within the [[Province of Saxony]]. Wittenberg continued to be a fortress and military post of the third class during the rest of the 19th century with the reorganisation of German defences until later dismantled two years after the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–1871. That important Central Europe conflict resulting in the organization and proclamation of the [[German Empire]] in 1871, which endured under the rule of the [[German Emperor]] from the [[House of Hohenzollern]] in Berlin until the [[First World War]]

A prisoner-of-war camp outside of town from 1914 to 1918 was built and set up. A {{convert|10+1/2|acre|ha|adj=on}} camp was set up at Klein Wittenberg, {{convert|2|mi}} from the city. Eight compounds held 13,000 men of soldiers, sailors and pilots captured from the [[Allies of World War I|Allied armies]] of several opposing  enemy nations. During the [[typhus epidemic]] of 1914–1915, conditions were harsh. The camp medical officer, Dr. Aschenbach who supposedly did the best he could, was later awarded the Imperial German military decoration of the [[Iron Cross]] for his part in the epidemic. The award however was controversial and later questioned by the Allies, who won the conflict.
The use of dogs to attack P.O.W.'s was mentioned and criticised by the [[United States Ambassador to Germany]] from 1913 to 1917, [[James W. Gerard]].  His book of the era was later produced by the [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood motion pictures industry]] as a [[silent film]] "[[My Four Years in Germany]]", in 1918.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

Unlike many other historic German cities during [[World War II]], Wittenberg's town centre was spared destruction during the conflict. The [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] agreed not to bomb Wittenberg, though fighting took place in the town, with bullet pock-marks visible on the statues of Luther and Melanchthon in the market square – or so the popular version of the town's history goes. In actual fact the Luther statue was not even present in the town square during much of the war but in storage at Luther Brunnen, a roadhouse a few kilometres north of the town.
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R92213, Wittenberg, Marktplatz, Rathaus, Stadtkirche.jpg|thumb|right|Market square in 1949]]
Wittenberg's reputation as a town protected from Allied bombing is largely accurate. However, just outside Wittenberg the government had built the ''[[Arado Flugzeugwerke]]'' (the Arado Aircraft Factory), which produced components of airplanes for the [[Luftwaffe]]. This war factory was worked by Jews, Russians, Poles, [[political prisoner]]s and even a few Americans—all prisoners engaging in [[forced labour]], including POW's who were supposed to be exempt from this sort of labor. American and British planes bombed the factory near the end of the war, and in destroying it killed over one thousand of the prisoners and POW's placed by the Germans in this war plant. The 1995 publication of ''"...und morgen war Krieg!"'' by Renate Gruber-Lieblich<ref>
{{cite book
| last1                 = Gruber-Lieblich
| first1                = Renate
| title                 = "... und morgen war Krieg!": Arado Flugzeugwerke7 GmbH Wittenberg 1936–1945 ; ein KZ-Lager entsteht
| year = 1995
| url                   = https://books.google.com/books?id=jO4hAQAAIAAJ
| language              = de
| publisher             = R. Gruber-Lieblich
| publication-date      = 1995
| isbn                  = 9783866343122
| access-date            = 29 May 2016
}}
</ref>
attempts to document this tragic bombing outside Wittenberg.
In 1945, Wittenberg issued 19 of its own postage stamps, each depicting Hitler but with a large black round overprint covering his face. At the end of the war, [[Red Army|Soviet forces]] occupied Wittenberg; it became part of [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]] in 1949. During the East German period, it formed part of [[Halle District]]. By means of the [[peaceful revolution]] in 1989, the communist régime dissolved and the town has been governed democratically since 1990.

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| image1            = Arsenal Shoppingcenter Wittenberg.jpg
| width1            = 260
| caption1          = Arsenal shopping centre, opened in 2012
| image2            = J41 376 Wittenberg, Collegienstraße und Melanchthonhaus.jpg
| width2            = 265
| caption2          = Restored houses in the city center, 2023
}}

Wittenberg is currently characterized by renovation and new construction work, an economic recovery and tourism development as a "place of pilgrimage for the Reformation". With the Luther Decade starting in 2008, the city began preparing for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which took place in 2017. Numerous buildings have been restored, the infrastructure has been partially renewed and numerous new attractions have been created in the city (e.g. the new [[Lutherstadt Wittenberg Hauptbahnhof]], Arsenal shopping centre, Luthergarden or the Panometer).

In 2014 Lutherstadt Wittenberg was awarded the honorary title [[European City of the Reformation]] by the [[Community of Protestant Churches in Europe]].

=== Historical population ===
The figures are given for the metropolitan district at the point in time. Up to 1791 the figures are generally estimated, later figures are from census or local authorities.

[[File:Wittenberg Einwohner.svg|thumb|Historical population 1800 to 2015]]
{{historical populations
|cols=3|align=none|percentages=pagr
| 1500 | 2,000
| 1532 | 4,500
| 1791 | 4,860
| 1792 | 4,703
| 1793 | 4,662
| 1794 | 4,617
| 1814 | 4,727
| 1826 | 6,725
| 1834 | 8,107
| 1846 | 10,283
| 1875 | 12,479
| 1880 | 13,448
| 1885 | 13,836
| 1890 | 14,443
| 1895 | 16,479
| 1900 | 18,345
| 1905 | 20,331
| 1910 | 22,419
| 1925 | 24,160
| 1939 | 35,130
| 1946 | 41,304
| 1950 | 49,852
| 1964 | 46,828
| 1971 | 47,323
| 1981 | 53,874
| 1989 | 51,754
| 1990 | 49,682
| 1992 | 55,096
| 1995 | 53,207
| 2000 | 49,643
| 2005 | 47,805
| 2006 | 46,776
| 2007 | 45,615
| 2008 | 47,695
| 2009 | 50,113
| 2010 | 49,496
| 2011 | 49,076
| 2012 | 46,930
| 2013 | 46,729
}}
Source: 2012 census.

== Divisions ==
The town Wittenberg consists of Wittenberg proper and the following ''Ortschaften'' or municipal divisions:<ref name=Hauptsatzung>[https://www.wittenberg.de/pics/medien/1_1401867555/1._Aenderung_Hauptsatzung.pdf Hauptsatzung der Lutherstadt Wittenberg], § 17, 16 December 2020.</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Abtsdorf]]
* Apollensdorf
* [[Boßdorf]]
* [[Griebo]]
* [[Kropstädt]]
* [[Mochau, Saxony-Anhalt|Mochau]]
* Nudersdorf
* Pratau
* Reinsdorf
* Schmilkendorf
* Seegrehna
* [[Straach]]
{{div col end}}

==Climate==
Wittenberg has a typical [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''; [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Dobk'') with cool winters and warm summers. The average temperature in Wittenberg ranges from {{convert|1|C|F}} in winter to {{convert|19|C|F}} in summer, with the average temperature from May to September being above {{convert|10|C|F}}. Winter begins in early October and spring begins in mid-April of the following year. There are 14.1 days of daytime high temperatures exceeding {{convert|30|C|F}} each year, and about 18 days of daytime maximum temperatures below freezing each winter.

The Wittenberg weather station has recorded the following extreme values:<ref name=sklima/>
* Highest Temperature {{convert|38.5|C|F}} on 9 August 1992.
* Warmest Minimum {{convert|22.6|C|F}} on 7 August 2015.
* Coldest Maximum {{convert|-17.4|C|F}} on 1 February 1956.
* Lowest Temperature {{convert|-24.6|C|F}} on 2 February 1956.<ref name=wetterzentrale/>
* Highest Daily Precipitation {{convert|97.4|mm|in|abbr=on}} on 27 July 2016.
* Wettest Month {{convert|177.2|mm|in|abbr=on}} in July 1954.
* Wettest Year {{convert|786.0|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 2007.
* Driest Year {{convert|308.0|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 2018.
* Earliest Snowfall: 30 October 1940.
* Latest Snowfall: 29 April 1985.
* Longest annual sunshine: 2,117.7 hours in 2018.
* Shortest annual sunshine: 1,388.1 hours in 1977.

{{Weather box	
|location = Wittenberg (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present)	
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 15.9
|Feb record high C = 19.1
|Mar record high C = 25.0
|Apr record high C = 32.0
|May record high C = 33.3
|Jun record high C = 38.0
|Jul record high C = 37.8
|Aug record high C = 38.5
|Sep record high C = 33.9
|Oct record high C = 28.0
|Nov record high C = 21.2
|Dec record high C = 17.8
|year record high C = 38.5
|Jan avg record high C = 10.9
|Feb avg record high C = 12.7
|Mar avg record high C = 17.9
|Apr avg record high C = 24.2
|May avg record high C = 28.7
|Jun avg record high C = 31.9
|Jul avg record high C = 33.4
|Aug avg record high C = 33.1
|Sep avg record high C = 27.5
|Oct avg record high C = 21.8
|Nov avg record high C = 15.1
|Dec avg record high C = 11.6
|year avg record high C = 35.2
|Jan high C = 3.5
|Feb high C = 5.0
|Mar high C = 9.3
|Apr high C = 15.2
|May high C = 19.8
|Jun high C = 23.1
|Jul high C = 25.4
|Aug high C = 25.1
|Sep high C = 20.1
|Oct high C = 14.1
|Nov high C = 7.9
|Dec high C = 4.3
|year high C = 14.4
|Jan mean C = 0.8
|Feb mean C = 1.7
|Mar mean C = 4.9
|Apr mean C = 9.8
|May mean C = 14.3
|Jun mean C = 17.5
|Jul mean C = 19.6
|Aug mean C = 19.2
|Sep mean C = 14.7
|Oct mean C = 9.7
|Nov mean C = 4.9
|Dec mean C = 1.8
|year mean C = 9.9
|Jan low C = -1.7
|Feb low C = -1.4
|Mar low C = 1.0
|Apr low C = 4.5
|May low C = 8.6
|Jun low C = 11.9
|Jul low C = 14.1
|Aug low C = 13.8
|Sep low C = 10.0
|Oct low C = 5.9
|Nov low C = 2.1
|Dec low C = -0.7
|year low C = 5.7
|Jan avg record low C = -11.7
|Feb avg record low C = -9.0
|Mar avg record low C = -4.9
|Apr avg record low C = -2.1
|May avg record low C = 2.2
|Jun avg record low C = 6.3
|Jul avg record low C = 8.9
|Aug avg record low C = 8.2
|Sep avg record low C = 4.5
|Oct avg record low C = -0.6
|Nov avg record low C = -4.3
|Dec avg record low C = -8.4
|year avg record low C = -13.6
|Jan record low C = -23.1
|Feb record low C = -24.6
|Mar record low C = -17.9
|Apr record low C = -6.7
|May record low C = -2.6
|Jun record low C = 0.9
|Jul record low C = 5.4
|Aug record low C = 3.8
|Sep record low C = 0.1
|Oct record low C = -5.8
|Nov record low C = -15.5
|Dec record low C = -22.2
|year record low C = -24.6
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 50.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 33.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 40.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 29.8
|May precipitation mm = 48.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 55.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 69.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 56.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 48.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 40.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 45.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 46.4
|year precipitation mm = 565.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm	
|Jan precipitation days = 16.9
|Feb precipitation days = 13.9
|Mar precipitation days = 14.8
|Apr precipitation days = 11.0
|May precipitation days = 12.5
|Jun precipitation days = 12.1
|Jul precipitation days = 13.8
|Aug precipitation days = 12.7
|Sep precipitation days = 11.5
|Oct precipitation days = 14.1
|Nov precipitation days = 15.0
|Dec precipitation days = 16.7
|year precipitation days = 164.8
|Jan snow depth cm = 7.1
|Feb snow depth cm = 6.7
|Mar snow depth cm = 3.2
|Apr snow depth cm = 0.5
|May snow depth cm = 0
|Jun snow depth cm = 0
|Jul snow depth cm = 0
|Aug snow depth cm = 0
|Sep snow depth cm = 0
|Oct snow depth cm = 0
|Nov snow depth cm = 1.6
|Dec snow depth cm = 5.9
|year snow depth cm = 12.9
|Jan snow days = 9.3
|Feb snow days = 7.7
|Mar snow days = 2.6
|Apr snow days = 0.3
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 1.3
|Dec snow days = 5.8
|year snow days = 
|humidity colour = green
|Jan sun = 58.1
|Feb sun = 78.6
|Mar sun = 123.8
|Apr sun = 187.5
|May sun = 222.7
|Jun sun = 223.2
|Jul sun = 228.4
|Aug sun = 218.5
|Sep sun = 164.5
|Oct sun = 116.3
|Nov sun = 58.7
|Dec sun = 47.0
|year sun = 1718.7
|Jan humidity = 85.8
|Feb humidity = 81.3
|Mar humidity = 75.9
|Apr humidity = 66.8
|May humidity = 66.5
|Jun humidity = 66.6
|Jul humidity = 66.7
|Aug humidity = 67.2
|Sep humidity = 74.9
|Oct humidity = 82.1
|Nov humidity = 87.8
|Dec humidity = 87.6
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012174927/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Wittenberg_10474.csv
|archive-date = 12 October 2023
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Wittenberg_10474.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
|work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = DWD Open Data<ref name=wetterzentrale>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.wetterzentrale.de/extremes_y.php?station=5629&country=1&order=1&extreem=X_TN
|title = Extremwertanalyse der DWD-Stationen, Tagesmaxima, Dekadenrekorde, usw.
|publisher = DWD
|language = de
|access-date = 29 October 2024}}</ref><ref name=sklima>{{cite web 
|url = http://sklima.de/datenbank_auswertung.php?tab=2
|title = Monatsauswertung 
|website = sklima.de 
|publisher = SKlima 
|language = de 
|access-date = 29 October 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Sights and culture ==

Lutherstadt Wittenberg has a wide range of cultural sites. Most are located within the historic old town along the ''Wittenberg Culture Mile''.

[[File:Wittenberg Lutherhaus courtyard.jpg|thumb|Lutherhaus, Wittenberg]]
[[File:Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo01.jpg|thumb|Cranachhof, one of many courtyards in Wittenberg]]
Wittenberg is home to numerous historical sites, as well as portraits and other paintings by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]] and [[Lucas Cranach the Younger|Younger]]. On the doors of [[All Saints' Church, Wittenberg|All Saints' Church, the ''Schlosskirche'']] ("castle church", built in 1496–1506) Luther is said to have nailed his [[95 theses]] in 1517. It was seriously damaged by fire in 1760 during a bombardment by the French during the [[Seven Years' War]], was practically rebuilt, and was later (1885–1892) restored. The wooden doors, burnt in 1760, were replaced in 1858 by bronze doors, bearing the [[Latin]] text of the theses. Inside the church are the tombs of Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, [[Johannes Bugenhagen]], [[Paul Eber]] and of the electors [[Frederick the Wise]] (by [[Peter Vischer the Younger]], 1527) and [[John the Constant]] (by [[Hans Vischer]]), and portraits of the reformers by Lucas Cranach the Younger, who is also buried in the church.

St. Mary's Church, the parish church in which Luther often preached, was built in the 14th century, but has been much altered since Luther's time. It contains a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, representing the [[Last Supper]] (with the faces of Luther and other reformers), Baptism and Confession, also a font by [[Hermann Vischer the Elder]] (1457). In addition, there are numerous historic paintings in the church.

The ancient electoral palace is another of the buildings that suffered severely in 1760; it now contains archives.

Martin Luther's home, the [[Augusteum and Lutherhaus|Lutherhaus]], where he studied and lived both before and after the Reformation, is now a museum containing many artifacts from his life. Melanchthon's house and the house of Lucas Cranach the Elder, mayor of Wittenberg, can also be found here. Statues of Luther (by Schadow), Melanchthon and Bugenhagen embellish the town. The spot outside the Elster Gate where Luther publicly burned the [[papal bull]] in 1520 is marked by an oak tree.

The original [[Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg|Wittenberg University]] quadrangle also lies in the city centre.

=== Buildings ===

==== Churches ====
===== Schlosskirche =====
[[File:Schloss und Schlosskirche Wittenberg Luftbild 2024 Toni Klemm.jpg|thumb|Schlosskirche at night]]
One of the town's main attractions is the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), most notably associated with the publication of Martin Luther's [[95 Theses]], a bold attack on the Roman Catholic Church's practice of indulgences. The castle church was remodelled between 1883 and 1892. According to the intentions of the builders, the world-historical significance of the castle church was to be expressed. In the spirit of the [[historicism]] period, the statement was related to the precursors and bearers of the Reformation, thus creating a Reformation memorial. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the posting of the theses in 2017, the church was extensively renovated.

===== Stadtkirche Wittenberg =====
[[File:Stadtkirche von Nordosten, Lutherstadt Wittenberg 20180812 001.jpg|thumb|Stadtkirche from northeast]]
St. Mary's Town Church and Parish Church is the mother church of the Reformation. The first Protestant service was held in it in 1521 by [[Justus Jonas the Elder]] and [[Andreas Bodenstein]] of Karlstadt. As Martin Luther's preaching church, it was the [[Reformation]] official church of the general superintendents of the Saxon [[Kurkreis]]. After the [[Congress of Vienna]] it became the official residence of the Wittenberg superintendents. The artistic decoration is well preserved and includes works by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]] and [[Lucas Cranach the Younger]]. Epitaphs on the interior and exterior walls refer to the work of many important personalities. The cemetery chapel of the Holy Corpse stands to the south of the town church and once belonged to the walled cemetery area of the church.

===== Unbefleckte Empfängnis Catholic Church =====
The church on Mauerstraße was [[Consecration|consecrated]] in 1872 by Bishop [[Konrad Martin]]. It was renovated in 1999/2000.

===== Christ Church =====
Christ Church was built as another church in 1907/1908 in the suburb of Kleinwittenberg in historicist forms.

==== Other buildings ====
[[File:Wittenberg Lutherhaus.JPG|thumb|Lutherhaus]]

===== Augusteum and Luther House =====
The representative showcase building Augusteum was once an extension of the University of Wittenberg "Leucorea". In the inner courtyard of the Augusteum is the former home of Martin Luther. Today, the building houses the Reformation History Museum with its collections of pictures, writings and contemporary exhibits from the [[Reformation]] era

===== Melanchthon House =====
The architectural style of the Melanchthon House in Collegienstraße, which expresses the self-confident modernity of the [[Renaissance]], is an architectural sight. In this house the [[Protestant Reformers|reformer]] Philipp Melanchthon lived and died. It houses an exhibition. In 2013, the house received an extension according to plans by the architects Dietsch & Weber from [[Halle (Saale)|Halle]] made of grey brick.<ref>Susanne Kippenberger: ''Alte Meister, neue Geister''. in: ''[[Der Tagesspiegel]]'', Sunday supplement, 23 January 2022, p. S8.</ref>

===== University ''Leucorea'' Wittenberg =====
Founded in 1502, the [[Reformation]] Martin Luther and Melanchthon spent time at the University of Leucorea in Collegienstraße. 

===== Hamlethaus =====
[[File:Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo04.jpg|thumb|Hamlethaus]]
The Hamlethaus in Collegienstraße blends into the ensemble of the town.{{clarify|date=April 2022}}

===== Bugenhagenhaus =====
The Bugenhagen House next to the town church is the oldest Protestant vicarage in the world and is one of the most significant memorials to the Reformation. Until 1997, it was the residence and place of work of the Wittenberg superintendents without interruption since the Reformation. [[Johannes Bugenhagen]] was the first pastor to live here until his death in 1558. Between 2004 and 2007, the building was thoroughly renovated and now serves as a spiritual community and meeting centre.

===== Stadthaus =====
[[File:Wittenberg - Stadthaus.jpg|thumb|Stadthaus]]
The Stadthaus is a modern building complex on Arsenalplatz that includes several historic buildings. Their origins date back to the 13th century. The town house contains significant remains of the medieval building fabric of the former [[monastery church]] of the [[Franciscan Order|Franciscans]], which in turn was used as the burial place of the [[Ascanians]]. As early as 1536, the building was converted into a granary by [[Conrad Theiß]] and heavily remodelled by adding several levels. The medieval windows were closed and pouring openings were installed. During the [[Seven Years' War]], the building was severely damaged and rebuilt with a lower building height. Several building activities in the following period have greatly changed the appearance of the building. At the end of the 19th century, for example, one storey was added and large window openings were broken in on the south side. Between 1945 and 1992, Arsenal Square with the town house was occupied by the [[Red Army]] and therefore inaccessible. On the site of the former Franciscan monastery, the city's Central Visitors' Reception was opened in 2014/2015. It includes the event centre Stadthaus, the [[Historical City Information]], the Council Archive and the Tourist and City Information Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wittenberg.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=1462&topmenu=1076&keepmenu=inactive |title=Central Visitor Reception ... ... am Arsenalplatz |trans-title=Central visitor reception ... ... at Arsenalplatz|website=wittenberg.de |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408040820/http://www.wittenberg.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=1462&topmenu=1076&keepmenu=inactive |archive-date=2016-04-08 |access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>

===== Altes Rathaus and Marktplatz =====
[[File:Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo03.jpg|thumb|Town hall]]
In the centre of the old town is the market square, where a ensemble of town houses has grown up over the centuries. On it are the Renaissance town hall, the monuments to [[Luther Monument (Lutherstadt Wittenberg)|Martin Luther]] (designed by [[Johann Gottfried Schadow|Schadow]]) and Philipp Melanchthon (by [[Friedrich Drake|Drake]]), as well as the [[Market Fountain (Lutherstadt Wittenberg)|Marktbrunnen]]. Since the town administration has been located in the former Tauentzien barracks in Lutherstraße beginning in 2000 (New Town Hall), the town hall on the market square has been called the Old Town Hall and has since served more representative purposes.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

===== Cranach-Höfe =====
The Cranach Courts attest to the work of [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]], [[Lucas Cranach the Younger]], [[Hans Cranach]], [[Augustin Cranach]], and [[Lucas Cranach III]] in Wittenberg. The building at Markt 4 and the pharmacy with the courtyard at Schlossstraße 1 show points of contact with Lucas Cranach and his descendants.

Lucas Cranach the Elder set up his own print shop in the once-famous printing town of Wittenberg. Among other things, the [[95 Theses]], the first part of the Luther Bible, [[Martin Luther|Luther's]] Table Talks, and numerous woodcuts were printed here. After the reconstruction of the Cranach courtyards, a historic print shop was re-established in Schlossstrasse, where texts (e.g. Luther's table speeches) and illustrations (in linocut) are now produced as privately printed matter using the letterpress process. The historical Gutenberg press in the [[Cranach-Höfe|Cranachhof]] at Markt 4 demonstrates how printing was done in the Middle Ages.

===== Wittenberg Castle =====
Wittenberg Castle is the former residence of the [[Electorate of Saxony|Saxon Electors]]. After being destroyed in 1760 and 1814, it was used as a barracks as part of the defensive fortifications. Since the [[First World War]], the castle has served civilian purposes.

=== Museums ===
[[File:Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo02.jpg|thumb|Cranach-Hof ]]
* ''[[Cranach-Höfe]]'', Markt 4 (changing exhibitions)
* ''[[Town Hall (Lutherstadt Wittenberg)|Altes Rathaus]]'' (changing exhibitions)
* ''Christian Art Foundation Wittenberg'' with a permanent exhibition and changing special exhibitions in [[Wittenberg Castle]] (access via visitor centre)
* ''Haus der Geschichte'' (20th century housing culture and in particular that of the former GDR), Schlossstraße 6
* [[Museum of Municipal Collections in the Zeughaus]] (city history; [[Julius Riemer]] collection: natural history, ethnology), Arsenalplatz
* Science Center futurea, Markt 25
* Historical City Information and burial place of the [[Ascanians]] in the monastery church, Arsenalplatz

=== Other sights ===
[[File:Aufnahme Luthergarten und Himmelskreuz.jpg|thumb|Luthergarten]]
* [[Luther Oak (Lutherstadt Wittenberg)|Luthereiche]] at the southern end of Lutherstraße, where Martin Luther burned the [[Bull of Banishment]] of the Pope in 1520, thus completing his separation from the Roman Catholic Church.
* Röhrwasser, historical water supply system.<ref>On the subject of Röhrwasser, see Burkhart Richter: ''Wittenberger Röhrwasser – ein technisches Denkmal aus dem 16. Jahrhundert sowie Wasserversorgung Wittenbergs von früher bis heute'' (= ''Series of publications of the Stadtgeschichtliches Zentrum Wittenberg.''). {{ZDB-ID|914183-2}}, issue 13). Stadtgeschichtliches Zentrum Wittenberg, Wittenberg 1991, {{OCLC|258696929}}.</ref> In the 16th century, the steady growth of the population of the town of Wittenberg made a supply of fresh and clear water increasingly necessary. The existing wells and streams were no longer sufficient, as they were increasingly polluted with rubbish. The tubewater changed all that. With the tube water connection, fresh spring water was available to the citizens day and night, summer and winter. It was not until 1883 that the tubewater lost its importance due to the central water supply. Today, the Wittenberg tube water system with its 20 or so existing wells is the only functioning tube water supply system from the Middle Ages north of the [[Alps]] and thus a technical monument. Since 2002, parts of the streams flowing through the town have been opened up.<ref>[https://www.wittenberg.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=489&topmenu=6 ''Historic streams in the old town.''] In: ''wittenberg.de,'' retrieved 3 August 2016 (planning and construction history of the opening).</ref>
* [[Ratsarchiv Wittenberg]], Juristentrasse 16.
* [[Kirchliches Forschungsheim]], Friedrichstrasse 1a.
* [[Luthergarten Wittenberg|Luthergarten]], park with 270 trees from all over the world near the castle on Kurfürstenring (formerly Hallesche Straße).
* Panoramic circular image ''[[Luther 1517]]'' by [[Yadegar Asisi]], Wilhelm-Weber-Straße near the [[Augusteum and Luther House Wittenberg|Lutherhaus]]<ref>[https://www.wittenberg360.de/ ''Wittenberg 360°.''] In: ''wittenberg360.de,'' retrieved 25 May 2021.</ref>
* Tierpark Wittenberg (Zoological Garden), Juristenstraße.
* Alaris Butterfly Park, Rothemarkstraße.
* K-Building (Kommandantengebäude), to house the planned study collection of the municipal collections, with attached lecture and conference centre, Juristenstrasse 14<ref>Irina Steinmann: [https://www.mz-web.de/wittenberg/museum-im-k-gebaeude--bloss-keine-reine-lagerhalle--29513846 ''Museum in the K-Building? Just not a mere warehouse!''] In: ''mz-web.de,'' 19 January 2018, retrieved 22 September 2019 (start of article freely available).</ref><ref>Irina Steinmann: [https://www.mz-web.de/wittenberg/immobilien-in-wittenberg-stadt-plant-weitere-rochaden-24707584 ''Immobilien in Wittenberg. City plans further castles.''] In: ''mz-web.de,'' 7 September 2016, retrieved 30 October 2019 (start of article freely available).</ref><ref>Marcel Duclaud: [https://www.mz-web.de/wittenberg/k-gebaeude-in-wittenberg-rat-gibt-gruenes-licht-fuer-umbau-zur-fluechtlings-unterkunft-23057398 ''K-Gebäude in Wittenberg. Council gives green light for conversion to refugee accommodation.''] In: ''mz-web.de,'' 29 October 2015, retrieved 30 October 2019 (start of article freely available).</ref><ref>Irina Steinmann: [https://www.mz-web.de/wittenberg/lokalpolitik-in-wittenberg-die-winterpause-ist-vorbei-29466768 ''Local politics in Wittenberg. The winter break is over.''] In: ''mz-web.de,'' 11 January 2018, retrieved 30 October 2019 (start of article available free).</ref>

==Coat of arms==
[[Image:Alt-Wappen-WB.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Wittenberg's oldest [[coat of arms]]]]
Wittenberg's civic [[coat of arms]] conveys with its various heraldic elements something of the town's history. On 27 June 1293, Wittenberg was granted [[town rights]] by Duke Albert II. There then arose a mediaeval town whose highest governing body was its council. This council, known to have existed as early as 1317, was given the job of administering the town in its care through law and legislation, and of handling the town's revenue. For documentation, the administration used its own seal.
One version of what is believed to be the town's oldest town seal, which the council used, and which dated from the first half of the 14th century, set the pattern with its elements for various civic coats of arms down to the present day.{{fact|date=April 2025}}


The coat of arms symbolizes, with its crenelated wall and the towers within and each side, a town that was already strongly fortified by 1409.
The two shields in the centre form the coat of arms of the Electorate of Saxony with the Saxon arms on the right, whose gold and black stripes recall the Ascanian rulers' house colours with the 
''Rautenkranz'' or [[crancelin]] (literally "[[rue]] wreath"; see the [[Saxony]] article for more) across them symbolizing the town's founder Duke Albrecht II since 1262, when it appeared in his arms.
The shield on the left is the Wittenberg district's arms. In 1356, Emperor [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV]] bestowed upon the Duke of Saxony-Wittenberg the honour of Elector. Wittenberg became an Electoral residence. The shield with its crossed swords stands for the office of "Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire" inextricably joined by the Electorate, brought to Wittenberg by [[Rudolf I, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg|Rudolf I]]. Both coats of arms continued to be used by the [[Wettin (dynasty)|Wettin]]s after the Ascanians died out.
The flowing water at the foot of the shield symbolizes Wittenberg's location on the River Elbe.
The fish is a [[salmon]], which as once abundant in the Elbe. The [[fishing|fishermen]], like all professions in town, got their own order in 1422, and the fish found its way onto their coat of arms.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

==Economy and infrastructure==
The town is a centre of the [[chemical industry]] with the {{Interlanguage link|SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz GmbH|de|3=Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz}}. The whole area of the industrial park covers more than 220 hectares with more than 1,500 workers.{{fact|date=April 2025}} Tourism plays a major role. Wittenberg is one of the top destinations in Saxony-Anhalt.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

[[Lutherstadt Wittenberg station]] is the main railway station. It connects Wittenberg hourly with [[Berlin]] to the north and [[Leipzig]] and [[Halle (Saale)]] to the south. The station was rebuilt to be more environmentally friendly and re-opened in December 2016.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

<gallery widths="100px" heights="100px">
File:Lutherstadt Wittenberg Hauptbahnhof (1).jpg|The new [[Lutherstadt Wittenberg station]] in 2017
File:Elbbrücke Wittenberg.JPG|The Elbe bridge is part of the [[Bundesstraße 2|Bundesstraße 2 federal highway]]
File:Piesteritz SKW.JPG|The 'SKW Piesteritz' industrial area
File:Elbe in Wittenberg.jpg|The [[Elbe]] connects Wittenberg with [[Hamburg]] and [[Magdeburg]]
</gallery>

==Theatre, culture and education==
[[File:Wittenberg University, Collegianstrasse, Wittenberg.jpg|thumb|right|Leucorea]]
Wittenberg has a long tradition of cultural events. The Central German State Theatre (''Mitteldeutsches Landestheater'') reached great importance in [[East Germany|GDR]] times. Since 1996, the town has staged open-air theatre shows based on the Lutheran history still alive in many historical places of the ancient town. As highlights, in 2001 and 2005, [[Fernando Scarpa]] became the [[artistic director]] of the ''"Bühne Wittenberg"'' (Stage Wittenberg), a project for theatre, art and culture in the whole of Germany which attracts many visitors to the town and whose success is known European-wide. On 2002 and 2003 [[Stefano Vagnini]], Italian composer and organist created the music for ''Thesys'' and ''Luther Stories''. 

Wittenberg is the seat of the Leucorea which is part of the [[Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg]], the largest university in Saxony-Anhalt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the university |url=https://www.uni-halle.de/universitaet/geschichte/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.uni-halle.de}}</ref>

== Personalities from the 19th to the 21st century ==
Not only the men of the Reformation era Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon and Lucas Cranach left their mark on Wittenberg. Much more than in its role as the capital of [[Electorate of Saxony|Kursachsen]] and as the residential town of [[Saxony-Wittenberg]], the city was shaped by the university. The names and dates of many personalities are recorded on memorial plaques on the houses in the old town.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

=== 1801–1850 ===
* [[Johann Friedrich von Brandt]] (* 1802 in Jüterbog; † 1879 in Merreküll), medical doctor and naturalist
* [[Friedrich Drake]] (* 1805 in Pyrmont; † 1882 in Berlin), sculptor
* [[Friedrich Ritschl|Friedrich Wilhelm Ritschl]] (* 1806 in Großvargula; † 1876 in Leipzig), philologist.
* [[Johann Hinrich Wichern]] (* 1808 in Hamburg; † 1881 in Hamburg), theologian
* [[Johann Gottfried Galle]] (* 1812 in Pabsthaus; † 1910 in Potsdam), astronomer
* [[Werner von Siemens]] (* 1816 in Lenthe; † 1892 Berlin), industrialist, founder of electrical engineering
* [[Karl Wilhelm Nitzsch]] (* 1818 in Zerbst; † 1880 in Berlin), historian
* [[Adalbert Falk]] (* 1827 in Metschkau; † 1900 in Hamm), Prussian minister of culture, honorary citizen of Wittenberg

=== 1851–1900 ===
* [[Karl Lamprecht]] (* 1856 in Jessen; † 1915 in Leipzig), historian
* [[Nathan Söderblom]] (* 1866 in Trönö; † 1931 in Uppsala), theologian, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, honorary citizen of Wittenberg
* [[Otto Kleinschmidt]] (* 1870 in Geinsheim 1870; † 1954 in Wittenberg), natural scientist.
* [[Otto Dibelius]] (* 1880 in Berlin; † 1967 in West Berlin), theologian
* [[Julius Riemer]] (* 1880 in Berlin; 1958 in Wittenberg), museum founder
* [[Else Hertzer]] (*1884 in Wittenberg; † 1978 in West Berlin), expressionist painter
* [[Otto Rasch]] (* 1891 in Friedrichsruh; † 1948 in Nuremberg), Lord Mayor 1934–36, as commander of Einsatzgruppe C responsible, among other things, for the massacre of [[Babyn Yar]]
* [[Hermann Oberth]] (* 1894 in Hermannstadt; † 1989 in Nuremberg), nuclear physicist

=== 1901–1945 ===
* [[Erwin Wickert]] (* 1915 in Bralitz; † 2008 in Remagen), diplomat and writer
* [[Konrad Wolf]] (* 1925 in Hechingen; † 1982 in Berlin), director
* [[Ezard Haußmann]] (* 1935 in Potsdam; † 2010 in Potsdam), actor
* [[Wolfgang Böhmer]] (* 1936 in Dürrhennersdorf), medical doctor, former Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt
* [[Friedrich Schorlemmer]] (* 1944 in Wittenberge), theologian.

=== After 1945 ===
* [[Reiner Haseloff]] (* 1954 in Bülzig), politician (CDU), Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt since 2011.
* [[Frank Wartenberg]] (* 1955 in Prenzlau), track and field athlete
* [[Christiane Wartenberg]] (* 1956 in Prenzlau), track and field athlete
* [[Peter Fitzek]] (* 1965 in Halle an der Saale), activist of the Reich citizenship movement, founder of the fantasy state Kingdom of Germany
* [[Fernando Scarpa]] (* 1968 in Milan), Italian film director
* [[Nils Seethaler]] (* 1981 in Berlin), provenance researcher and museum initiator

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Wittenberg is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Partnerstädte|url=https://www.wittenberg.de/leben/stadtportrait/partnerstaedte.html|website=wittenberg.de|publisher=Wittenberg|language=de|access-date=2021-02-17|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924075957/https://www.wittenberg.de/leben/stadtportrait/partnerstaedte.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Göttingen]], Germany (1988)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Bretten]], Germany (1990)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Springfield, Ohio]], United States (1995)
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Békéscsaba]], Hungary (1999)
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Haderslev Municipality|Haderslev]], Denmark (2004)
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Beveren]], Belgium (2019)
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Mediaș]], Romania (2019)
*{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Mogilev]], Belarus (2019)
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
WittenbergMittelstr.JPG|Wittenberg old town
Wittenberg - Stadtbach in der Schlossstrasse (Town Stream in the Schlossstrasse) - geo.hlipp.de - 28216.jpg|View to [[All Saints' Church, Wittenberg|All Saints' Church]]
912u_Luther's_95_Theses,_Schlosskirche,_Wittenberg,_GER,.jpg|Replica of the [[Ninety-five Theses]] in the All Saints' Church
Wittenberg - Stadtkirche nachts.jpg|[[Stadtkirche Wittenberg|Stadtkirche]]
Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo10.jpg|[[Melanchthonhaus (Wittenberg)]]
Wittenberg Lutherhaus.JPG|The [[Augusteum and Lutherhaus]]
Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo03.jpg|Town hall 
HW-Schule.jpg|Hundertwasserschule, School by [[Friedensreich Hundertwasser]]
Wittenberg Piesteritz.jpg|Werksiedlung Wittenberg
Dessauer Straße 291, Lutherstadt Wittenberg 20180812 003.jpg|Amtsgericht
Font by Hermann Vischer the Elder, St Mary's Church, Wittenberg.jpg|Font by Hermann Vischer the Elder, St Mary's Church, Wittenberg
Statue Marktplatz (Wittenberg) Philipp Melanchthon.jpg|[[Philipp Melanchthon]] in the market square
Wittenberg,Luthers Hochzeit.jpg|Market square, with ancient town hall, statue of Martin Luther and ''[[Stadtkirche Wittenberg|Stadtkirche]]''
Lutherstadt Wittenberg 09-2016 photo04.jpg|Hamlethaus at Wittenberg old town
Maarten Luther Statue.jpg|Maarten Luther Statue
Rathaus Wittenberg Entre.jpg|Town hall
Rathaus Wittenberg Detail.jpg|Facade images, town hall
Markt 25, Lutherstadt Wittenberg 20180812 005.jpg|Futurea Science Center museum at market
Kropstaedt castle3.JPG|Kropstädt Castle
Schloss Nudersdorf.jpg|Nudersdorf Castle
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
|editor=John M. Jeep
|title=Medieval Germany: an Encyclopedia 
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p4uHav3mZLsC
|year= 2001
|publisher=[[Garland Publishing]] |isbn=0-8240-7644-3
|chapter= Wittenberg
}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Wittenberg}}
{{wikivoyage|Wittenberg}}
*[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/783 Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg UNESCO Official Website]
*[http://www.wittenberg.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=255&topmenu=255 Municipal website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316132039/http://www.wittenberg.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=255&topmenu=255 |date=16 March 2012 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060619185746/http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/wittenberg-pictures/index.htm Wittenberg Photo Gallery]
*[http://www.buehnewittenberg.de Theatre of Wittenberg] {{in lang|de}}
*[http://thebignote.com/2020/01/01/the-forgotten-men-of-wittenberg/ Info on the camp typhus epidemic in World War One]
*[http://dw.com/p/18K1n ''Luther and the Chemicals Industry''], a 2013 documentary in English by [[Deutsche Welle]] covering the history of the city

{{Towns and municipalities in the district of Wittenberg}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Germany}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wittenberg| ]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Germany]]
[[Category:Towns in Saxony-Anhalt]]
[[Category:Martin Luther]]
[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Germany]]
[[Category:Wittenberg (district)]]
[[Category:Populated riverside places in Germany]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Elbe]]