Bachhaus Eisenach

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The half-timbered house on Frauenplan consists of two buildings erected in 1456 and 1458 that were joined around 1600, making it one of the oldest surviving houses in Eisenach. In 1857, based on oral tradition, the Bach biographer Carl Hermann Bitter declared it the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, and a memorial plaque followed in 1868. Only in 1928 did tax records show that Bach's father had owned a different property nearby; members of the Eisenach branch of the family did, however, live in the Bachhaus from 1746 to 1779.

The Neue Bachgesellschaft (New Bach Society), founded in 1900, bought the house in 1905 and opened it on May 27, 1907 as the first museum devoted to Bach. Donations, above all the collection of Aloys Obrist, laid the foundation for the instrument collection. A neighboring house was added as early as 1911; the exhibition was redesigned in 1973, and historic keyboard instruments have been played every hour ever since. Because the society linked East and West, the museum remained independent in the GDR and at times drew more than 130,000 people a year.

From 2005 to 2007, the ensemble was restored and expanded with a sculptural new building by the Kassel architect Berthold Penkhues. The exhibition designed by Atelier Brückner opened in May 2007 and combines more than 300 original exhibits with listening stations and the "Walk-in Piece of Music". In 2025, the Marc-Aurel-Hett-Saal was added, with a display on the development of wind instruments. The museum is run by Bachhaus Eisenach gGmbH, whose shareholder is the Neue Bachgesellschaft.

Highlights

• Hourly short concerts on organs, clavichord, spinet and harpsichord in the historic instrument hall
• Furnished living rooms from Bach's time in the half-timbered house of 1456
• "Walk-in Piece of Music" with hanging sound chairs in the new building
• Reconstruction of Bach's theological library
• Marc-Aurel-Hett-Saal on the development of wind instruments (since 2025)
• Small Baroque garden and Café Kantate

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung zu Leben und Musik Johann Sebastian Bachs – Historic living rooms, an instrument hall with hourly demonstrations and a new building with listening stations and a multimedia sound installation guide visitors through Bach's life and work.
• Vom Kuhhorn zum Double Bell – Blasinstrumente im Marc-Aurel-Hett-Saal – A display on the development of wind instruments, mainly in the 19th century, in the hall of the new building that opened in 2025.

Founded

1907

Operated by

Bachhaus Eisenach gGmbH (Gesellschafterin: Neue Bachgesellschaft e.V.)

Director

Dr. Jörg Hansen

Visitors per year

approx. 62,072 (2010)

Admission & discounts

Groups of 10 or more and people with severe disabilities pay €12.50. Bach-Luther combination ticket for the Bachhaus and Lutherhaus €23.50 (family €50), with the Lutherhaus visit valid within one year. The hourly short concert is included in admission. weimar card / weimar card plus, Thüringer Wald Card and hotel vouchers are accepted. Members of the Neue Bachgesellschaft free. No online ticket sales.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The new building is fully served by an elevator and accessible; wooden ramps lead into the historic instrument hall. The living rooms on the upper floor of the old Bachhaus cannot be reached by wheelchair. The ramp on the sidewalk in front of the house is not wheelchair-accessible – call ahead if needed. Museum guide in Braille available to buy or borrow. Guide dogs allowed, other dogs not (three free dog boxes at the entrance).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Playground / play area

Kids' corner with a tricky organ puzzle; short concerts on Baroque keyboard instruments every hour. Bookable school programs for different age groups; no dedicated family tours were found.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Kantate with cakes and tarts from an Eisenach pastry shop, plus a small Baroque garden. Museum shop with sheet music, CDs, books and souvenirs (also an online shop).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

"Historische Abendmusik" (historic evening music) exclusively for one group (daily from 18:00, 90 minutes) with sparkling wine, a short tour and a concert on Baroque instruments in the instrument hall (63 seats): up to 24 people €600 flat rate, 25 or more people €25 per guest. Individual events and presentations by arrangement.

Plan your visit