Augustinian Monastery, Gotha

Martin Luther visited the city of Gotha on several occasions, not only for pleasure, but also for work, namely for the visitation of its Augustinian Monastery. Alongside Bad Langensalza and Erfurt, Gotha was home to one of the three monasteries founded by the Augustinian friars, who had come to Thuringia from Tuscany. The chapter of the German Augustinian Congregation, which was formed in spring 1515 in Gotha, elected Martin Luther as the provincial vicar of the ten (later eleven) Augustinian convents in Saxony and Thuringia. He was immediately committed to strongly fulfilling his responsibilities in this position, whatever the size of the task required. Luther liked to frequently use Gotha as a stop on his trips to and from Worms, Marburg or Schmalkalden. According to records, he first stayed in the city in May 1515 and last visited in 1540. Friedrich Myconius (1491-1546) went down in history as the 'Reformer of Gotha'. Myconius, with whom Luther often consulted, had been sent to Gotha in order to 'take control of the Reformation, which had gotten off to a stormy start'.

Opening times

Summer:

Weekdays: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Saturday: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Sundays after church services: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

The Augustinian Church is an open church to which visitors are welcome.