St. George's Church (Georgenkirche) is a medieval church in Eisenach connected with both Martin Luther and Johann Sebastian Bach.

History of Georgenkirche

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 at Georgenkirche

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 on Georgenkirche

Site Information
Names:	Georgenkirche · St. George's Church
Categories:	churches
Styles:	Gothic; Baroque style
Dedication:	St. George
Status:	active
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:	50.974325° N, 10.319526° E
Address:	Markt Germany
Hours:	Mon-Sat 10am-12:30pm and 2-5pm Sun: 11:30-12:30pm and 2-5pm
Lodging:	View hotels near Georgenkirche

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

References

1. Rough Guide to Germany 7 (July 2009), 287.
2. Frommer's Germany

More Information

• Photos of Georgenkirche - here on Sacred Destinations