Luthergarten Wittenberg, Wittenberg

Notoriously, the Reformation began in Martin Luther’s city Wittenberg. To give expression to the event of its 500th occurrence, the Luther Garden was built in the ramparts of Wittenberg. As part of this project, a total of 500 trees were planted in the Luther Garden and in the city area. The aim was to give concrete form to Luther’s optimistic attitude, which is so vividly expressed in the quote attributed to him: “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would perish, I would still plant an apple tree today“.

Churches from all over the world and of all denominations were invited to sponsor one of the 500 trees and at the same time plant a tree in the area of their home church. As part of “Luther’s Decade”, the Luther Garden in Wittenberg was the central, ecumenically growing and globally unifying monument to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.