Georgenkirche, Eisenach
East side of the Georgenkirche in Eisenach. Photo
Robert Scarth.
Exterior and interior of the Georgenkirche. Photos courtesy Tim Rishton.
The west front and Bach's baptismal font. Photos by Robert Scarth.
St. George, outside the Georgenkirche. Photo
Robert Scarth.
Location map and aerial view of Georgenkirche. For a larger interactive view, see our Eisenach Map.
St. George's Church (Georgenkirche) is a medieval church in Eisenach connected with both Martin Luther and Johann Sebastian Bach.
History
The present church is a Late Gothic successor of an earlier church, in which Landgrave Ludwig IV married the Hungarian princess now known as St. Elisabeth.
Martin Luther was a choir boy at Georgenkirche while he lived in Eisenach (1498-1501) and later preached here 1521 on his journey to and from the imperial parliament in Worms. The church became Protestant and adaptations were accordingly made to the building, most notably the addition of tiered galleries.
Bach was baptized at St. George's on March 23, 1685, and several members of the musically-gifted Bach family were organists here.
Today, the Georgenkirche is the cathedral of the Lutheran diocese of Thuringia.
What to See
The north wall of the church bears a large painting commissioned to commemorate the Reformation: it depicts Luther, the Bohemian reformer Jan Hus and the Augsburg Confession.
The walls also bear a number of 14th-century epitaphs commemorating Ludowingian Landgraves who ruled from the Wartburg. Ludwig I (known as Ludwig der Springer because he jumped from a prison window) can be seen behind the altar to the right holding a model of Eisenach's first church.
There is a statue of Bach in the entrance hall and outside the church is a 16th-century statue of St. George, the patron of the church, slaying a dragon.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Georgenkirche; St. George's Church |
| Dedicated to: | St. George |
| Location: | Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany |
| Categories: | Churches; Historical Sites |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Original/Primary: Catholic Current/Secondary: Lutheran |
| Status: | active |
| Architecture: | Gothic, Baroque |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 50.974325° N, 10.319526° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Markt, Eisenach, Germany |
| Hours: | Mon-Sat 10am-12:30pm and 2-5pm Sun: 11:30-12:30pm and 2-5pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources for Eisenach
- Eisenach Map - our detailed interactive map of Eisenach, plus hand-picked links to more
- Eisenach Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Eisenach Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Eisenach tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Rough Guide to Germany 7 (July 2009), 287.
- Frommer's Germany
Article last updated: 10/11/2009.
