Cranach the Elder acquired this property from the heirs of the first rector of the Wittenberg University founded in 1502, the physician Martin Pollich von Mellerstadt (c. 1455-1513). Under Cranach the Elder, the rear side wing was built in 1540, which initially probably served as a workshop building. A few years later, the south wing was built, which then housed the workshop. Cranach the Elder left Wittenberg in 1550. The farm in Schlossstraße was taken over by his son Lucas.

Martin Pollich von Mellerstadt ran the Wittenberg pharmacy in Schlossstrasse. In 1520, Cranach the Elder received the pharmacy privilege. The pharmacy was located on this property until the 1540s. Cranach's youngest daughter Anna married the pharmacist Caspar Pfreundt, they took over the house at Markt 4 and established the pharmacy there. In 1799, the Cranach pharmacy was moved back to Schlossstraße 1, where it is still located today.

In the 16th century, the Cranach workshop trained the next generation of artists for the European courts. The Cranach Foundation took up the idea of training and founded a children's and youth art school in 1996. The workshop buildings were renovated as an external expo project from 1997 to 2000. The front building was converted into a hostel and inaugurated in 2009. Just as in Cranach's day, visitors can continue their artistic education and live in his courtyard at the same time.

The renovation of the Cranach courtyards was made possible by federal, state and municipal funds. The German Foundation for Monument Protection and Lotto Toto GmbH Saxony-Anhalt have provided significant financial support for the preservation of the Cranach courtyards. In 2005, the Cranach Courts were declared an architectural monument of national importance.

Owner: Nadine Krickemeier
Phone: +49 (0) 178 / 4 81 03 28
E-Mail: info@hofwirtschaft.de
www.hofwirtschaft.de

Opening hours:

Hostel Manager: André Chmilewski
Phone: +49 (0) 34 91 / 69 81 95
E-Mail: info@cranach-herberge.de
www.cranach-herberge.de

Director: Dörthe Zielke
Phone: +49 (0) 34 91/41 09 12
Fax: +49 (0) 34 91/41 09 19
E-Mail: info@cranach-malschule.de
www.cranach-stiftung.de

Business hours:

Owner: Andreas Metschke
Phone: +49 (0) 17 6/ 99 42 01 13
E-Mail: hist-Druckerstube@web.de

Opening hours:

Owner: Birgit Biernoth
Phone: +49 (0) 34 91 / 40 20 02
Fax: +49 (0) 34 91 / 40 72 19
E-Mail: lucas-cranach-apotheke@arcor.de

Opening hours: