Herder Church (St. Peter and Paul)

Weimar's City Church of St. Peter and Paul – commonly called the Herder Church – is the town's main Protestant church and a significant Reformation site. Originally built in the 15th century (consecrated 1500) in Gothic style, it was heavily damaged by fire in 1774 and later restored by 1803 with a simpler interior. The church's nickname honors Johann Gottfried Herder, the famed poet and theologian who served as Weimar's chief pastor from 1776 to 1803 and is buried here in the church crypt. The Herder Church's greatest treasure is the altarpiece: a triptych painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder and his son in 1555, depicting the Crucifixion in the center with portraits of Luther and the Saxon princes – an artwork bridging Reformation and art. The bright interior features white walls, wooden galleries, and a grand Silbermann organ (installed in 1812) that was played by J.S. Bach's students. Today, the church remains an active parish and a tourist highlight. Visitors can admire the Cranach altar up close and see Herder's tombstone. The Herder Church, part of the Classical Weimar UNESCO ensemble, embodies Weimar's religious heritage, linking the spiritual reforms of Martin Luther's time to the enlightened faith of Herder's era.