--- title: "Spiritual places in Saxony - A journey of faith" url: "https://www.visitsaxony.com/things-to-do/culture/spiritual-places" description: "From churches and monasteries to places of contemplation: Saxony offers fascinating attractions tracing Jewish heritage and the Protestant Reformation." language: "en" breadcrumb: "Root > Home > Things to do > Culture > Spiritual places" --- Spiritual places ================ Between contemplation and cultural discoveries How faith shaped Saxony From the spread of Christianity to the birthplace of the Reformation -------------------------------------------------------------------- Faith has played a major role in shaping Saxony’s history. When the German emperor took possession of the region known as Saxony today, the Slavic people living there were not only assimilated, but also christianised. **Meissen’s highly visible cathedral** became the beacon of the new faith. In the late 15th and early 16th century, **late Gothic hall churches** where erected all over Saxony. But by then, the **Reformation** had become inevitable and, based on **Martin Luther's theses**, Saxony became the „Motherland of the Reformation“. Later, the Saxon rulers became Catholics to ascend to the Polish throne. This made Saxony the first region where the rulers and their subjects did not have to have the same religion. - - The Moravian Church ------------------- Tolerance has long been part of life in Upper Lusatia, where Protestants and Catholics still live side by side in harmony. It was also here, in Herrnhut, that the Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine/Moravian Church was founded 300 years ago – now . Although most people in Saxony today are not members of a religious community, the region’s religious heritage remains highly valued, with its many churches, convents and monasteries along pilgrimage routes and the . Enjoy 800-year-old convents, a 500-year-old replica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (in Görlitz), the world’s first purpose-built Protestant church (in Torgau), or one of the very few synagogues in Germany to survive the Nazi regime. Or how about discovering yourself as you discover Saxony? - UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe in Sachsen Places of faith --------------- > Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. Martin Luther, Protestant Reformer and professor of theology, 1483-1546 Discover religion and spirituality in Saxony -------------------------------------------- \#visitsaxony ------------- Share your experiences with our community! - Architecture, art and industrial heritage More cultural highlights for your holiday -----------------------------------------