In the spiritual center of the German Reformation - the city of Torgau - Hartenfels Castle is the most important building block in the city ensemble.
In the first half of the 16th century, Hartenfels Castle became the political center of the Reformation. Elector Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous demonstrated his position as a leading secular and spiritual authority through architecture and ornamentation on the facade of the castle. A prominent example of this representative architecture is the Great Wendelstein. The Protestant castle chapel was consecrated by Martin Luther in 1544. It is considered the first Protestant church to be newly built and became an example for other sacral buildings. At the beginning of the 19th century the castle became part of the Saxon-Napoleonic fortress and later Prussian barracks. Today, it is a monument of international importance and the site of various exhibitions of national importance. The chapel is a living house of God and is open for free viewing as well as for church services. Since 2009 Hartenfels Castle has also been the seat of the District Office of Northern Saxony.
