City Church of Saint Peter and Paul Weimar (Herder Church)

The late Gothic Town Church St. Peter & Paul was built as a three-aisled hall church between 1498 and 1500. The first church on this site was built between 1245 and 1249. The foundations of the church’s western tower are among the city’s oldest structures. Of the church’s original late Gothic elements, the baptismal font, the staircase to the baroque pulpit and parts of a wall painting of Saint Ursula underneath the organ loft are the only ones that remain.

The main point of attraction in the church is the winged altar begun by Lucas Cranach the Elder in 1522 and finished by his son. The Cranach Altar is considered one of the major works of 16th century Saxonian-Thuringian art, and is an important testament to the ideas of the Reformation. The Luther Shrine is also noteworthy, a triptych from 1572 that shows Martin Luther as a monk, as Junker Jörg (Luther’s cover name during his stay at the Wartburg Castle), and as a teacher. Martin Luther preached in the church numerous times.

The church has now become a major tourist attraction. Together with the Herder House it was made part of the UNESCO World Heritage Classical Weimar ensemble in 1998. In addition to regular Sunday and holiday religious services, organ concerts, exhibitions, oratorio performances, and guest concerts by celebrated artists are held frequently in this historic church.

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