Rediscover Cranach
In today's Cranach House with its associated courtyard at Markt 4, Lucas Cranach and Christian Döring ran a print shop where, among other things, Martin Luther's Bible translations were reproduced. Today, the permanent exhibition "Cranach's World" is located here, where visitors can learn everything worth knowing about the life and work of the Cranach family. In addition, exciting special exhibitions on topics related to letterpress printing, language and art are held here on a regular basis.
In 1517/1518, Cranach purchased the largest Wittenberg farm at Schlossstrasse 1 to expand his workshop. Today, you can admire the historic printer's room here, where you can gain impressive insights into the old techniques of letterpress printing. In addition, the picturesque Cranach courtyard invites you to linger: with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake in Café 3 or the Hofwirtschaft, you can review the impressions of the city in a relaxed atmosphere.
Both courtyards are now listed buildings and have been extensively restored.
Permanent exhibition "Cranach's World" in the Cranach House
In the Cranach House at Markt 4, you can experience the world of the Cranachs as it was 500 years ago. Here you will find a diverse selection of artworks by Lucas Cranach the Elder as well as Lucas Cranach the Younger. You will also learn details about working and living in a printing workshop. In the course of renovations to the historic building, wall paintings were also uncovered, which can also be marveled at.
However, Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Younger were not only known as printers, painters and graphic artists, for in later years they were also council members, mayors, real estate and pharmacy owners. Some of the exhibits in the permanent exhibition naturally relate to these areas of their varied lives.
mother morphosis
24 February 2026 – 10 May 2026
Art about becoming a mother
Freelance artist Wiebke Kirchner, a graduate of Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle (painting and graphic design), focuses on the theme of motherhood as an artistic starting point in her current exhibition. She has been working independently since 2016, developing multi-layered works from foil cut-outs, coloured acrylic glass, synthetic resin and, in some cases, breast milk.
The result is impressive compositions in which personal experiences and collective experiences merge. Between intimacy and power, between tenderness and overload, pictorial spaces open up that reveal both the fragile and the enduring.
Felicitas Packeiser offers a complementary photographic perspective in a guest contribution. The artist, who trained at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, portrays female artists caught between the tensions of the studio and everyday family life. Drawing on her own experience, she addresses the challenges young mothers face in the art world and draws attention to structural injustices in her performances.
Accompanying programme
20 March 2026, 4 p.m.
Special tour with Wiebke Kirchner and Felicitas Packeiser
14 April 2026, 5 p.m.
Talk with the initiative ‘Werk und Wippe’ on family friendliness in the art world
10 May 2026, 1 p.m.
Collage workshop for the finissage with Wiebke Kirchner
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Cranach House, Market 4
November - March
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sunday / holidays: 01:00 pm – 05:00 pm
April to October
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm
Sunday / holidays: 01:00 pm – 05:00 pm
Please be advised that the Cranach-House is closed on Easter Monday and Easter Sunday.
Cranach House (permanent exhibition & special exhibitions)
Adults: 7,00 €
Reduced: 5,00 €
Children: 0,50 €
groups from 10 persons: 5,00 € p.p.
Printers' Room:
The Printers' Room can be visited free of charge.
When purchasing a World HeritageCard, they receive free admission to the exhibition in the Cranach House, Markt 4, as well as many other museums in the region upon presentation of the card.
In addition to the exhibitions, the Cranach Foundation also offers the possibility of holding events at historical sites. Four event rooms, two gardens and a hostel are available for this purpose.
