The Black Cloister

This building used to be the Black Cloister, or more formally the Monastery of Augustinian Eremites.  It used to be a Monastery which housed a bunch of Augustinian monks.  Dr. Martin Luther is one of those who used to live within its walls as a  monk.  Nowadays, however, it is becoming known simply as Luther House.  As a consequence of the reformation all the monks have moved out and the monastery has been dissolved.

Dr. Luther continued to live here, along with any other former monks or travelers who needed shelter.  When Dr. Luther got married to Katharina von Bora in 1525, Elector Frederick the Wise gave it to him outright as a wedding present.  The Luther family continued to offer help and shelter to whomever came to their doors asking for it.  They even took in those who were sick during the times of the Black Plague.

Dr. Luther and his family occupied the right wing of the house and he used the other wing for giving lectures.