Rick Steves’ Special: Luther and the Reformation

Written by: Stacia Hentz
Date: March 24, 2017

Over the years, travel guide Rick Steves has become our guide through history. This Monday, at 10 p.m. on WOSU TV, Steves commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with his new special Luther and the Reformation.

In 1517 German monk Martin Luther, who was fed up with what he saw as corruption in the Catholic Church, nailed his 95 Theses to the door of his church in Wittenberg, Germany, and started what would become the Protestant Reformation.

Steves writes about this project: “The Reformation—even if you’re not a Lutheran—is a very big deal. Weaving the story of Martin Luther into the big historic sweep, we dealt candidly with Luther’s human foibles and weaknesses. His authenticity is endearing. We followed the tortured path of a troubled young monk, as he fought depression, walked from Germany to Rome to sort out his feelings, and climbed the Holy Stairs on his knees … struggling to make sense of it all and eventually becoming ‘the Great Reformer.’ As a tour guide and travel teacher, writing the script provided an opportunity to explain concepts people may have heard of but didn’t really understand.”

In true Steves fashion, he takes us on a journey, visiting key historic sites, including Erfurt, Wittenberg, Rome and wondrous cathedrals in Spain, Switzerland and Scotland.

I hope you’ll join Steves and WOSU TV on Monday night to mark this 500-year anniversary.

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