Augustinerkloster (Augustinian Monastery), Erfurt
The Augustinian Church and Monastery in Erfurt, where Martin Luther
lived for six years as a monk. Photo © ErfurtWeb.
Church at the Augustinerkloster. Photo © Ethan Stock and Judi Stock.
An Augustinian robe on display in the monastery. Photo © photomaven.
The Renaissancehof in the Augustinerkloster. Photo
cactusbones. 
Another view of the monastic church. Photo
cactusbones. 
Ruins of the old church. Photo © Augustinerkloster.
Gardens. Photo © Augustinerkloster.
The Augustinerkloster (Augustinian Monastery) is the primary stop on the Luther trail in Erfurt. Luther became an Augustinian monk here in 1505.
Inside the monastery is a permanent Luther exhibition, the restored monastic cell of Brother Martin, and a Reformation Library with rare books. And you can sleep here, too! The Augustinerkloster includes a conference center with 51 comfortable guest rooms (far cushier than Luther's ascetic lifestyle).
History
The Augustinerkloster was founded by Augustinian monks (an order that follows the Rule of St. Augustine) who settled in Erfurt in the 13th century. The church and the majority of monastery buildings were constructed between 1276 and 1340.
By the time Martin Luther joined the order on July 17, 1505, the Augustinerkloster was a respected center of Catholic learning with a theological college and an extensive library.
Luther was a monk here from 1505 to 1511. In early 1505, he had just received a Master of Arts from the University of Erfurt and was planning to enter law school in accordance with his stern father's wishes. But on July 2, 1505, Luther was caught in a terrible thunderstorm and feared he would be struck dead by lightning. He called out to St. Anne, patron saint of his father's profession of mining, "Help me! And I'll become a monk."
Luther survived, as we know, and faithfully kept his vow: he joined the Augustinerkloster in Erfurt on July 17. Like all new monks, Luther began as a novice and then took his monastic vows in 1506.
In 1507, Luther was ordained priest and began studying theology at the University of Erfurt. In 1512, he received his doctorate and became a professor at the University of Erfurt. (See Luther in Erfurt for more on this period of Luther's life.)
After the Reformation came at the hands of their Brother Martin, the Augustinian Monastery of Erfurt was secularized (the last monk died in 1556). Over the next few centuries, the buildings were used for a grammar school, a library, an orphanage, and a government assembly hall. In 1646, the monastery was damaged by a lightning bolt, which is ironic since Martin Luther became a monk here after being saved from a thunderstorm that terrified him!
After centuries of lying dormant, the monastic church was restored and reconsecrated in 1851. During World War II, the Augustinerkloster was the site of a great tragedy. A British bombing raid on February 25, 1945, destroyed much of the monastery, killing 267 people who had taken shelter in the cellars beneath the library. Reconstruction began in 1946 and was completed in 1957.
A seminary occupied the restored buildings from 1960 until 1993. The Lutheran Church subsequently completed restoration work on the church where Luther took his vows and turned the monastery's east and west wings into a conference center.
Today, the monastery is also home to seven sisters of the Casteller Ring Community, a Protestant religious order in the Benedictine tradition whose members take vows of poverty, obedience, and celibacy.
What to See
Although many monasteries were simply left abandoned after the Reformation, the Augustinerkloster in Erfurt is not one of them! It is a working Lutheran church and cloister that offers regular worship services, a 60,000-volume historical library, guided tours, a café, and a conference center with 51 guest rooms.
For Luther pilgrims, the main attraction of the Augustinerkloster is Luther's monastic quarters. The "Bible - Monastery - Luther" exhibit opened in 2002 and occupies the former monks' quarters. The monks studied or worked in their cells but slept outside their cell doors in the hall. One cell has been furnished as it might have looked in Luther's time, except of course for the portrait of Luther on the wall!
The Augustinian Church is the oldest part of the monastery, occupying the site of a parish church of St. Phillip and St. Jacob that was built in 1131. The church and the monastery buildings date from 1276-1340, although they were much restored after the extensive war damage. The church is attractive, with three aisles and a noteworthy collection of original Gothic stained-glass windows (early 14th century), one of which portrays the life of St. Augustine in multiple scenes.
In the summer, the Augustinerkloster's hosts 10pm concerts in the church or the monastery courtyard.
The guest rooms are modern and comfortable, and have no TV or radio on principle. As of 2006, a single room is €45 and a double room is €38 per person per night. Breakfast is included.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Augustinerstrasse 10, Erfurt, Germany |
| Contact: | 0361/576 60 10 |
| Tours: | Apr-Oct: Mon-Sat hourly 10-noon & 2-4, Sun after services; Nov-Mar: Tues-Sat hourly 10-noon, Sun after services. Sign up at the monastery reception desk or in the café. Alternatively, you can take an English-language tour through the Erfurt Tourist Information Office as part of a walking tour of the town. |
| Cost: | €3.50 |
| Website: | www.augustinerkloster.de |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Augustinerkloster in Erfurt. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Erfurt Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- The Rough Guide to Germany 6.
- Evangelisches Augustinerkloster zu Erfurt - official site (German only)
- The Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt - Routes to Luther
- Augusinterkloster - Europe for Visitors
- Life of Martin Luther - ReligionFacts
- The Rule of St. Augustine - Wikipedia
