Bach FAQ 113

Is There Any Other Bach House Anywhere Besides the One in Eisenach?..

To the point: There's not just one Bach House..

The Bach House in Eisenach. The Bach House in Bad Hersfeld. And the Bach House in Wechmar. However, for fans of Johann Sebastian Bach, there’s really only one that matters: the Bach House in Eisenach. Right next to the Bach Museum and the Bach Monument..

Anyone interested in delving deeper into this “topic within the topic” – that is, whether there is just one Bach House or several – will truly find what they’re looking for on this, my website. Because this site covers far more Bach Houses than just that one very well-known one. In fact, there’s plenty of information here about the locations where Bach lived, as well as the buildings he lived in that weren’t – and aren’t – called Bach Houses. Plus, there’s information about the Bach Houses where his relatives lived. And even about a Bach House where never ever a Bach..

It’s not just any Bach House. It’s the ( ! ) Bach House. In Eisenach. You can get to know it in the video. It’s only a few minutes long. Then visit the Bach House and see for yourself why a trip to Eisenach is so worthwhile and exciting. © Info..

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So it’s not just any Bach House! It’s the Bach House! In Eisenach. In the video above, I’ll give you a quick overview and introduce you to the Bach House. It only takes a few minutes. After that, you can click here to get directly to the Bach House in Eisenach. There, you’ll learn much more about why a trip to Eisenach is totally worth it..

The Bach House in Eisenach from an unusual perspective: namely, with a residential building to its right that no longer exists. For Bach fans, a visit there is almost a must. To the right of the Bach House, by the way, stands the ultra-modern Bach Museum today..

Of course, a page on the topic of “Bachhaus” can’t do without a picture of the composer: Here he is in a historical photo..

One Bachhaus (Bach House)? Or Two or Three or Even Four?..

You’ll be surprised at just how much there is to say – or rather, to write – about the subject of Bachhaus. Sure, there’s always plenty of information. But … as always … on this website … in addition to accurate information, you’ll also find entertainment: photos, videos, and exciting stuff..

Actually, as mentioned earlier, there is only one Bach House. It is the one in Eisenach. And it is 100 times more exciting as a destination than the one in Arnstadt, for example. But a trip to Arnstadt is definitely worth it as well. The third Bach House is located in Köthen. Specifically, on the Bachplatz. Right behind Bach’s monument. It is the second Bach House in Köthen. The first Bach House in Köthen no longer exists. However, you cannot view the interior of this Bach House: because that would greatly disturb the residents there.

An exception is the Bachhaus in Weimar. That is what some, but just a few Bach fans all over the world desperately. Read more below, on this page..

One exception is the Bach House in Weimar. Some people would love to see that happen. But only a few Bach fans around the world are truly desperate for it. More on that further down this page..

You’ve made it this far? Thank you for visiting. Before we leave Eisenach ... Eisenach, the “Bach city of all Bach cities” ... home to the “Bach House of all Bach Houses” ... I’d like to introduce you to this wonderful city in Thuringia. Just briefly. In the video above..

Is There a Bachhaus (Bach House) in Leipzig?..

Here you can still see it: the Thomasschule (... St. Thomas School) next to St. Thomas Church. In front of it stands the world’s first Bach monument. It was funded by Bach enthusiast Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. So, in a way, Leipzig did have “a sort of” real Bach House. But today … it’s gone..

St. Thomas Church? Yes ... St. Thomas School? Yes ... Bach House? Well, “sort of a Bach House.” That was it back then: another fascinating perspective ... historical and in color..

Another cool historical item that used to travel around as a postcard. While there is no Bach House in Leipzig today, there is the Bose House. That’s where the Bach Archive is located. And a Bach Museum. If you stand in the Thomashof (... St. Thomas Court) in front of the Bach Monument, the entrance is right behind you. To your left is the Thomasshop: It’s small, a bit hidden, and not part of the Thomaskirche right next to it..

Of course, there is also the other side of the Thomasschule. Now with the Thomaskirchhof in the foreground, where, of course, there is no Bach monument yet..

So no, there was never a Bachhaus in Leipzig, that carried the term of Bachhaus and even if one or another of you now tremors: the St. Thomas School was no Bachhaus. And if so anyway, then the Leipzigers have torn it down. So the bottom line is: if you are looking for a Bachhaus, or two or three Bachhouses, than you definitely won't be successful in Leipzig..

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There is no Bach House (Bachhaus) in Leipzig. Just for consolation, you get a cool, short video about "the Bach city of all Bach cities"..

Is There a Bachhaus (Bach House) in Ohrdruf, Thuringia?..

Apart from the fact that Johann Sebastian Bach lived in Ohrdruf as a teenager starting at the age of ten – and so, strictly speaking, the house where his oldest brother lived would have been a “Bach House” – there even isn't such a Bach House in Ohrdruf. However, there is the Johann Sebastian Bach Street. It leads directly to the tower of St. Michael’s Church. And there is also a commemorative plaque mentioning the Bachs in Ohrdruf. But a Bach House – or, more precisely, a Johann Sebastian Bach House – unfortunately no longer exists in Ohrdruf as a pilgrimage destination..

So ... there was this large Ohrdruf Bach family. And these Ohrdruf Bachs were, of course, part of the most famous family of musicians on earth... namely, that of JSB. They were the family of the ancestors and descendants of Veit Bach from Wechmar..

Since there isn’t a real Bach House in Ohrdruf either (… that is, none where Johann Sebastian once lived and that you can walk into and see today), here’s another short little video about this charming Bach city. Enjoy watching it..

This is where the Bachs from Ohrdruf are said to have once lived. And for a time, Johann Sebastian Bach lived here with them as well. After his mother, then his uncle, and finally his father had all passed away in Eisenach. Bach House 1 and Bach House 2 no longer stand today. Of course, the house that stood there around the year 1700 is also no longer there, where Johann Christoph and his two younger brothers once lived for a time in Bach House 3..

Back to Eisenach Again, and There to Bach House No. 2: What Now?..

It’s actually already been mentioned above: the Bach House. In Eisenach. But now, in the list of all Bach Houses, it certainly can’t be left out. To keep things interesting, the question of whether there’s actually a second Bach House in Eisenach arises only now..

From the Bach House, next to the Bach Museum and the Bach Monument, it’s just a short walk toward city hall. And if you take the shortest route, which also passes by the Luther House, you’ll walk right past the very house where Bach was actually born. It’s the house at number 35 on Lutherstraße. This street used to be called “Fleischgasse”. And of course, it wasn’t the house that stands there today. But ... that’s where it happened..

The Luther House is in the middle of the picture. In the background, you can see the city center with the City Palace..

On the left is the City Palace. On the right is city hall..

Is the "Real" Bach-Birthplace in Eisenach a Bachhaus, Too?..

Well ... actually ... no. Because first of all, we’re absolutely certain that Bach was not born in what is now the Bach House. Yet that’s exactly what people believed for many, many decades. So, not in the Bach House. Not in that ancient yellow house on Frauenplan next to the ultra-modern Bach Museum. But Johann Sebastian Bach was most certainly born a few meters further toward the market square. In what was then Fleischgasse. People think they know exactly where. But this is doubted ... and by the highest authorities in Bach research. Of course, the house that stood there back then no longer exists today. And, of course, a much newer house now stands in its place. But naturally, no one calls this house the “Bach House” today. So there is exactly one ( ! ) Bach House in Eisenach..

There Is Also a Bach House in Halle: The Wilhelm Friedemann Bach House..

A cool photo of the Bach House in Halle on the Saale, which I’ve been given permission to post here. I love photos with sunlight on the subject. Many thanks to Thomas Ziegler for the permission. Now for the official copyright notice: © City of Halle (Saale)/Thomas Ziegler..

On a website dedicated solely to Johann Sebastian Bach, this Bach House probably wouldn’t have a place. On a website about the Bach family of musicians — which is what this site is — it naturally belongs. However, it belongs only on a page dedicated to the topic “Bach House.” In that regard, this Bach House in Halle is definitely “in good hands.”..

2010 marked the 300th birthday of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Bach’s eldest son and second child. This provided the occasion to renovate the house where WFB – as Bach enthusiasts call the eldest Bach son – once lived. It had already been partially renovated earlier, specifically in 1987 and 1989. But 2010 provided the perfect opportunity to complete the renovation to perfection: to make it safe, to save energy, and to open it to the public as a tourist attraction..

Johann-Christian Fromme, an architect from Halle, was responsible for this renovation. And he delivered a flawless result. It is a three-story building, and since 2012, all three floors have been open to the public across 700 square meters. It now features an exhibition spanning 150 square meters. There are also plans to market it for residential use, as office space, and as a restaurant. Many exciting events and activities are planned for the near and distant future. The W.F. Bach House Halle, our Bach House, in this magnificent city looks forward to welcoming you and your visit on its website. A little confusion is acceptable: The page about the W.F. Bach House is on the Handel House website. And they are two different locations..

Is There a Bachhaus (Bach House) in Wechmar?..

But of course there is a Bach House in Wechmar. It’s called the Bach Ancestral Home. But whether with or without “Ancestral" : Bach House is Bach House. Veit Bach was once a baker here and baked his bread there. Together with his son Hans. Right where the Bach Museum stands today. It is just a three-minute walk away from the Bach Mill, where Veit and Hans – and later, only Hans – ground their grain. It was there that Veit played his cythringen – as a type of zither was once called – to the rhythm of the mill. This is already recorded in the “Ursprung.” And also in the J.S. Bach Necrology, which Bach’s son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach wrote together with two other authors. A necrology is an obituary, and this necrology is thus the first biography of Johann Sebastian Bach. Actually, more of a first short biography..

The Bach House in Wechmar is, more precisely, the Bach Ancestral Home (Bach-Stammhaus). It is associated with Veit Bach and Hans Bach, the great-great-grandfather and the great-grandfather of our Johann Sebastian Bach..

The Bach seal itself has meanwhile developed its own history: Until 2009, people were convinced that there were seven cones in the crown. Today we know better: Five is the correct number. Nevertheless, this place is now part of Bach’s history, and that is why the seal is also ... correct..

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The Bach House in Arnstadt..

It’s fascinating to explore – as you walk from the Bach monument on the square in front of the town hall toward the Johann Sebastian Bach Elementary School in Arnstadt – just how close Johann Sebastian Bach once lived near the town hall. And how quickly he could get to his prince. Without a taxi, public transportation, or even his own carriage. Seriously: The choir students around troublemaker Geyersbach didn’t need much time to lie in wait for Bach, the organist and choir director. It took Bach just three minutes to get to the Bach Church – which, of course, wasn’t called that back then – and that was on foot. The court of Bach’s prince wasn’t much farther away either..

The Bach House in Arnstadt. This is where Bach lived during his time in Arnstadt. It is the only house with a structure so old that you can still touch the same walls that Bach might have touched some three centuries ago..

There Is No Longer a “Bach House 1” in Köthen. And What About a “Bach House 2”?..

You might recognize the Bach Monument in the center of the picture. To the left behind it is the “second Bach House” in Köthen. Don’t worry, you’ll get a closer and larger view of it later..

Here is the “second Bach House” (... behind the dark car). This is where Bach loved life in Köthen. Until Maria Barbara died so suddenly. And to be precise? Of course, it’s not the actual building from back then. But that’s where ... it really was. Bach’s second home..

Bach in Köthen ... that is the Bach Monument, the Bach Square, the Bach House..

It’s a trilogy you’ll find in Köthen’s “Baroque Quarter.” It’s quite close to the very heart of the city, home to the stunning historic town hall. That’s where the Bachplatz is located. The square has been there for quite some time. It has since been beautifully restored. The Bach Monument stands there. It is one of the older historic Bach monuments. And right behind Johann Sebastian Bach stands the “second Bach House.” During his time in Köthen, Johann Sebastian Bach lived with his family in two homes in succession. Bach could envision spending the rest of his life in Köthen. But life took a cruel turn for him there: When he returned after a two-month journey with his prince, friend, and employer, his wife had died and had already been buried..

It certainly wasn’t an easy task. People in Köthen had been searching for the two Bach Houses since the late 19th century. From 2006 to 2008, the European Union even provided funding for the project. The state of Saxony-Anhalt did as well, and of course the city of Köthen, too. From the Köthen city castle register to original documents and even literature, they collected everything that could shed light on this fascinating question..

A number of potential Bach houses were also identified, and researchers then used a process of elimination to search for the actual Bach House. Bibliometrics is the key term here: The goal was to reevaluate the so-called chains of reasoning used by historians. Today, based on the study, it is believed that these two Bach Houses have been found. With near certainty. What was the result?..

Bach and his family probably lived at what is now 44 Schalaunische Straße from 1717 to 1719. They stayed there until the new building at 25/26 Wallstraße was completed. Then the Bach family moved. Today, a department store stands on the site of Bach House 1. It has been there since 1969. However, it is no longer known when this “first Bach House” was demolished..

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Why Is there a Bachhaus (Bach House) in Bad Hersfeld, Hesse? Was J.S. Bach Ever There?..

© This cool photo was taken by Christopher D. Göbel, who has kindly given me permission to publish it here. Why not visit Mr. Göbel’s Facebook page? Click here to get there..

That is how you take great photos: That is, with much sunshine and blue skies. © Again thank you so much, Mr. Göbel..

So, why is there a Bach House in Bad Hersfeld? Did the master ever go there? Did he play music there, inspect an organ, or at least tell someone which organ builder might be the best? This Bach House was inaugurated in 2004, and they say it has very special acoustics. Still, that doesn’t answer the question of why there’s a Bach House in Bad Hersfeld if Bach and his family never lived there..

It’s actually quite simple. The members of the city council, together with the residents of this beautiful town and the mayor of Bad Hersfeld, decided to honor the master composer. That’s almost reason enough to commemorate this musician of the millennium. Just as they did in Regensburg, Bavaria, with the Bach organ. Or in Ansbach, Bavaria with a really cool Bach monument. Bach had never been to any of these cities either. Just as he had never been to Rothenburg on the Tauber, Paris, Shanghai, Pittsburgh in the U.S., or many other locations around the world..

It's Hard to Believe: Bach Lived in Weimar for Nine Years. Two of His Famous Sons Were Born Here ... So Why Isn't There a Bach House in Weimar Yet?..

That’s the view Bach had – and it’s exactly that distance – when he looked out his window or on his way to work. The latter took him about 66 seconds. The Red Palace in Weimar..

Do you see the house in the middle, with the small canopy and a vehicle in front of it (... but not the black one)? That is/was the Bach House. In the background, you can see the Red Palace, where Bach worked..

Once again, the Bach House, located where the two rows of houses visually meet: It is the backmost house in the right-hand row..

It’s a tragedy, and I can speak from personal experience … they simply don’t want a Bach House in Weimar. I learned this during a visit to Weimar that I had undertaken specifically “regarding the Bach House.” They just don’t want one. This, of course, convincingly explains why so many attempts and efforts to use or purchase the parking lot for this purpose have failed so far: All approaches ultimately ended up in a “dead end.” There is even an association that was formed for no other reason, with no other goal. There are supporters all over the world ... but the goal has never been achieved..

By now, the “Hotel Elephant” – whose owners owned both the hotel and the parking lot – has long since been sold, but that hasn’t improved the situation – at least not yet. Weimar simply refuses to establish a Bach House in the city center. However ... this site wouldn’t be the only location to honor Bach in Weimar. It’s a shame that Weimar is “so saturated” with history, traditions, great and famous names, and pride that it’s deemed not worthy of a suitable location to honor three world-class musicians. Three musicians? Yes, JSB, WFB, and CPE. I know I don’t need to explain the abbreviations now. For you, there are two more pictures below that speak for themselves..

The Bach Monument. Did you find it? It’s there. I promise!..

It's easy now, right? Go back to the picture above. Try again..

Another Bach House in Thuringia? You Didn't Expect That, Did You?..

Erfurt is the capital of the state of Thuringia. You already knew that. But I’m pretty sure you didn’t know that Erfurt is the Bach city of all Bach cities. That is, of course, only if we’re talking about the Bach family of musicians. There are 60 entries in the city’s church records for this family alone ... not just any family named Bach.. 

All the Bachs mentioned in the church records above are related to Johann Sebastian Bach. And now, please just take a moment, and let’s honor Ms. Helga Brück together. By watching the cute, ultra-short video featuring her as a city guide. Below the following text..

Of course, there’s a Bach House in Erfurt, too. Actually, there are two Bach Houses. This is where Johann Sebastian Bach’s father and more Bachs once lived. Before the family moved to Eisenach..

Now let’s take a moment to honor Mrs. Brück together. Without her help, her expertise, and the family tree on paper that she provided for us, this Bach Project would never have come into being. Thank you, dear Mrs. Brück..

To the 100 most important Bach FAQs.

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