Wittenberg: Garden Realm, Luther Sites and Landscapes

Garden Design and Reformation History

Wörlitz Park in Oranienbaum-Wörlitz is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm. Created in the second half of the 18th century, it was the first English landscape garden on the continent. Located on a branch of the Elbe, it covers about 112.5 hectares. The park’s size and the period in which it was created give it a distinctive historical scale; Oranienbaum Palace and Park are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm. The Garden Realm is one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wittenberg District.

In Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the Luther Memorials commemorate Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon and the Reformation. As UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they are among its authentic historic settings. The Luther House is considered the world’s largest museum of Reformation history. Another historical thread leads to the printing workshop, associated with the reproduction of Martin Luther’s Bible translation. Those wishing to explore cultural history in greater depth will find various points of interest here, from the museum to the history of printing.

Floodplains, Forest and Trails

The Elbe flows through Wittenberg District for almost 100 kilometres, through a largely natural floodplain landscape. The Dübener Heide, Central Germany’s largest contiguous forest area, lies in the south of the district. This means very different landscapes are available for outings: the river landscape with its floodplains and an extensive forest area.

The Auenpfad Oranienbaumer Heide provides information at 13 stops about the area’s biodiversity and distinctive landscape features. You can plan to explore it on foot or by bike; access points are in Oranienbaum, Jüdenberg and near Möhlau. The routes around Bergwitzsee are also of interest to cyclists: the EuroVelo route R1, the Berlin–Leipzig Cycle Route and the KOHLE|DAMPF|LICHT Cycle Route run near the lake. You can reach the Auenhaus Information Centre in Oranienbaum-Wörlitz by bus on the WelterbeLinie 310, and from Dessau by the Dessau-Wörlitzer Railway.

Places with Stories of Their Own

Even beyond the major themes, individual places make their mark. Bad Schmiedeberg holds the triple title “State-recognised Moor, Mineral and Kneipp Spa”. Reinharz Moated Castle, with its park, and the Baroque church of the same name are on the Berlin–Leipzig long-distance cycle route; the castle was built between 1690 and 1701. In Pretzsch, the castle dates from the 16th century and has an adjoining park. The origins of Coswig Castle go back to the 12th century.

In Annaburg, the Porzellaneum brings together a porcelain museum, a creative painting studio, a porcelain shop and a café. The painting school offers tailor-made workshops for different age groups, including children’s birthday parties. Another aspect of regional culture can be seen at the Lichtenburg Prettin Concentration Camp Memorial: it is housed in a Renaissance castle that served as a Saxon electoral prison from 1812 and as a concentration camp during the Nazi era. The Zahna Farmers’ Museum is housed in a 600-year-old Flemish farmhouse; on display are a historic residence, a tractor collection and a well-preserved smithy. Since 1993, sculptures made of wood, metal and other materials have been exhibited in the approximately 20-hectare meadow of Bülzig Sculpture Park.

The winemaking tradition is also part of the region’s character: Jessen (Elster) is shaped by picturesque vineyards and a centuries-old winemaking tradition. When choosing where to stay, you can focus on the experiences that matter most to you—for example, garden design, Reformation history, forest and floodplain landscapes, or individual cultural sites. The regional town pages also take you to Gräfenhainichen, Griesen, Kemberg and Zahna-Elster.

For the broader travel overview: Saxony-Anhalt.