Eisleben facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eisleben
Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Mansfeld-Südharz
Elevation	114 m (374 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)
• Total	22,639
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	06295
Dialling codes	03475, 034773, 034776
Vehicle registration	MSH, EIL, HET, ML, SGH
Website	www.eisleben.eu

Eisleben is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is famous as the hometown of Martin Luther. Because of this, its official name is Lutherstadt Eisleben. In 2015, Eisleben had about 24,198 people living there.

Eisleben has two main parts: the old town (Altstadt) and the new town (Neustadt). The new town was built in the 14th century for the miners of Eisleben.

Eisleben used to be the main town of the Mansfelder Land district. It is also the center of the "collective municipality" called Lutherstadt Eisleben.

History of Eisleben

Eisleben was first mentioned in writing in the year 997. It was called a market then. By 1180, it was known as a town. The Counts of Mansfeld ruled this area until the 1700s.

In 1780, Eisleben became part of the Electorate of Saxony. After the Napoleonic Wars, it joined the Kingdom of Prussia. After World War I, it became part of the Free State of Prussia in the German Reich.

After World War II, Eisleben became part of the new state of Saxony-Anhalt. This was in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Germany became one country again in 1990.

Helfta Convent's Story

Modern homes for nuns at Helfta Convent in Eisleben.

In 1229, the Counts of Mansfield started a convent for women. It was first located near their castle. Later, they built a separate convent at Helfta, close to Eisleben. This new convent opened in 1258.

The convent followed rules similar to the Benedictine or Cistercian orders. It became famous for its powerful and mystical leaders, called abbesses. These included Gertrude of Hackeborn, Gertrude the Great, and Mechtild.

However, a duke named Albrecht destroyed the convent in 1342. It was rebuilt the very next year. The convent closed in 1524, but it reopened later on a smaller scale until 1542.

In 1542, local farmers took control of the property. In 1712, it became a farm run by the Prussian state. In 1994, the Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg bought the land. They began to fix up the old buildings. Cistercian nuns from Seligenthal in Bavaria moved in around 1999.

Martin Luther's Connection to Eisleben

The famous Protestant reformer Martin Luther was born in Eisleben. He was born on November 10, 1483. His father, Hans Luther, was a miner.

Luther's family moved to Mansfeld when he was only one year old. He lived most of his life in Wittenberg. Luther gave his last sermon and died in Eisleben in 1546.

Eisleben started taking care of its Luther memorials in 1689.

In 1997, Luther's "Birth House" and "Death House" were added to the World Heritage List. This means they are very important places in the world. Luther was also baptised in Eisleben's St. Peter and Paul Church. He preached his last sermons at St. Andreas Church.

Famous People from Eisleben

Martin Luther as a monk in 1520

Friedrich August von Quenstedt in 1868

Many interesting people have connections to Eisleben:

• Gertrude the Great (1256–1301), a mystic and Catholic saint.
• Martin Luther (1483–1546), a key leader of the Protestant Reformation.
• Johannes Agricola (1494–1566), another Protestant reformer.
• Friedrich Koenig (1774–1821), an inventor in printing.
• Friedrich August von Quenstedt (1809–1889), a geologist and paleontologist.
• Hermann Lindrath (1896–1960), a politician and government minister.
• Egbert Hayessen (1913–1944), a major and resistance fighter.
• Ute Starke (born 1939), a gymnast who competed in the Olympics.
• Thomas Lange (born 1964), a two-time Olympic champion in rowing.
• Timo Hoffmann (born 1974), a professional boxer.

Twin Town

• Eisleben is twinned with Lutterworth in the United Kingdom. This partnership started in 2015.

See also

In Spanish: Lutherstadt Eisleben para niños