CRANACH Renaissance and Reformation in Art

7  days | £3395 per person with flights | 18 - 24 April 2026

Renaissance and Reformation in Art

With the blow of a hammer a revolution was started. By allegedly nailing 95 theses decrying the Catholic trade with indulgences onto the door of Wittenberg’s palace church, Martin Luther had brought about the most seminal schism in the history of Western Christianity. What should have been nothing more than an academic dispute ended with excommunication, imperial ban and – not least of all – a fundamental change of attitude to Christian art and architecture. Luther did not condemn the use of images, but the production of devotional artworks went into rapid decline and artists were forced to seek out new tasks and opportunities. This lead to an increase in private portraiture, exquisitely crafted objects for cabinets of art and curiosity, as well as the invention of new Lutheran devotional images. These were rigidly, repetitively, and even boringly didactic rather than artistically licensed to thrill, though they found a protagonist with Lucas Cranach the Elder and his shop. First at Wittenberg and later at Weimar, Lucas Cranach – friend of Martin Luther and supporter of the Reformation – became the media strategist and something of a PR manager of the Reformation while at the same time accepting commissions from leading Catholic princes as well. This Art Pursuits study tour explores the towns and villages in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, which were the epicentre of the Lutheran Reformation. These include lesser-known hidden gems such as the town of Gotha, the former residence of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, or Torgau and Schmalkalden, both boasting splendid Renaissance palaces.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Fly from London to Berlin. Continue to Wittenberg, Luther’s home for 35 years – where an introductory walk is followed by communal dinner. Time permitting, there will be a visit to the Cranach collection at the Grunewald hunting palace.

Day 2

A day in Wittenberg. The town’s Augustinian friary became Luther’s home after its dissolution and is now a museum. Here Luther lectured and composed many of his pamphlets and invectives. Wittenberg’s two historic churches have both been recently restored: the high altar of the Stadtkirche by Cranach the Elder illustrates the tenets of Lutheran lore, as does the polemic Luther’s Vineyard by Cranach the Younger. The famous Schlosskirche, where Luther is buried, has life-size bronze statues of Friedrich the Wise and his brother Johann the Steadfast, successive electors of Saxony and the reformer’s powerful protectors.

Day 3

Leave Wittenberg for Weimar. En route, pay a visit to Torgau on the River Elbe. From 1485 it was transformed into a princely palace which today preserves much of its Renaissance grandeur. The electoral rooms are finally accessible again after restoration. In 1544 Luther consecrated the new palace chapel, one of the first purpose-built Protestant churches. It was in Torgau where Luther, together with leading figures of the early Reformation, compiled the so-called Torgau Articles which became the foundation for the first Protestant creed, the Augsburg Confession. Continue to Weimar, the tour’s second centre.

Day 4

A day in Weimar on foot. A walk through town will lead us past Lucas Cranach’s last home to the parish church of Sts Peter and Paul. Its main attraction is the wonderful triptych by father and son Cranach, a principal work of German late Renaissance art that effectively conveys Lutheran theology in paint. We continue to the newly opened picture gallery, home to a fine collection of works by Cranach the Elder.

Day 5

Full-day coach excursion to Eisenach and Gotha. The UNESCO world heritage site of Wartburg Castle is rising on a hilltop above Eisenach. It is one of the best-preserved examples in Germany and site of the legendary “Sängerkrieg” that inspired the romantic opera “Thannhäuser”. Our focus is on the history of the 16th-century when Martin Luther went to school in Eisenach and returned here. Hidden in the disguise of “Junker Jörg” he translated the New Testament into German in his study in Wartburg Castle. Gotha is best known as Prince Albert’s home and as a secondary residence of the Saxon dukes. The ducal art museum houses an excellent collection including the ‘Gothaer Tafelaltar’: an extraordinary piece of Protestant art comprising 160 panel paintings depicting the life of Christ according to Luther’s 1522 translation of the Bible.

Best Western Soibelmanns, Wittenberg

This 4-star hotel is located in the centre of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, adjacent to the renowned Lutherhaus Museum and within walking distance of other landmarks and local restaurants. Guests will enjoy the classic elegance of the hotel during the tour, a perfect base for exploration.

Hotel Elephant, Weimar

The original Hotel Elephant dated to 1696 and eminent visitors include Thomas Mann, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Johann Sebastian Bach and Richard Wagner. Today the hotel offers a blend of timeless elegance and refined service to ensure guests enjoy a seamless stay. Rooms are equipped with premium bedding and air conditioning.

With Flights: £3395

Join Direct: £3245

Single Supp: £320

Deposit: £450

Departure Dates:

18 - 24 April 2026

Duration:

6 nights / 7 days

Your Holiday Includes:

• Return flights (Economy class) from London to Berlin, returning to London from Frankfurt
• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the Best Western Soibelmanns in Wittenberg
• Two nights' bed and breakfast at the Hotel Elephant in Weimar
• Private coach transfers and excursions
• Three evening meals and one lunch
• Guided visits to the sites and monuments listed in the programme
• Services of the tour lecturer and a tour manager
• Detailed programme and study notes
• All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff
  

Tour Lecturer

Dr Ulrike Ziegler

Specialising in mediaeval art and the cultural politics of post-war Germany at the universities of Regensburg and Aberdeen, Dr Ulrike Ziegler is a well-respected member of Art Pursuits and has lectured at universities and for multiple cultural institutions, along with organising and leading many study tours in both Germany and Austria. Ulrike is now working on Art Pursuits' German programme.



Travel Information

The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.

Please note that Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.

Stamina

Please note that most of our tours involve a large amount of walking, across uneven ground and often without the opportunity to sit down for at least half an hour. We ask that clients inform us if they have difficulties before booking to avoid any issues whilst on tour.