Historische Kuranlagen und Goethe-Theater Bad Lauchstädt

About the museum

The spa town of Bad Lauchstädt came into being after a spring with reddish water was discovered in 1704 while digging on the site of today's spa park. Friedrich Hoffmann, a professor from Halle, certified its healing effect, and the Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Merseburg had spa operations started around 1710. After a visit by the Saxon Electoral couple in 1775, the complex was renewed to plans by Johann Wilhelm Chryselius: the Douche Pavilion opened in 1778, the dance and dining hall in 1780, and the ensemble was completed around 1784.

From 1791 at the latest, the Weimar Court Theatre, directed by Goethe, gave guest performances in Lauchstädt in the summer. The playhouse, built to plans by the Berlin architect Heinrich Gentz, opened on 26 June 1802; the timber-framed building, with room for about 600 spectators, was built in just over three months and is regarded as the prototype of the bourgeois theatre. It has borne the name Goethe Theatre since 1908 and is still used for guest performances today.

After restorations in 1830, 1907/08 and 1966–68, the building underwent comprehensive renovation from 2015 to 2021 and reopened on 27 August 2021. The spa grounds and theatre are run by a non-profit company (gGmbH) that has existed since 1994. This includes the New Schiller House as a theatre and literature museum.

Highlights

• Goethe Theatre of 1802 with authentic stage machinery from Goethe's time
• Historic Kursaal and spa park by Chryselius
• New Schiller House: theatre and literature museum with Schiller's room and Goethe's director's chair
• Douche Pavilion as a museum on the history of the mineral spa
• Theatre guest performances from May to October

Permanent exhibitions

• Neues Schillerhaus – Theater- und Literaturmuseum – Exhibition on the rise of the spa town and theatre history with a theatre model, historic Schiller's room, a panorama of the spa park from 1789 and memorabilia such as Goethe's director's chair.
• Douche-Pavillon – Museum zur Geschichte des Mineralbades – The pavilion, opened in 1778 and restored in 2016, shows the technology and history of mineral bathing in Lauchstädt.

Operated by

Historische Kuranlagen und Goethe-Theater Bad Lauchstädt GmbH

Director

René Schmidt

Admission & discounts

The spa park is freely accessible all year. Admission prices for the theatre and exhibitions outside guided tours have not been published.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available

Kurparkcafé "Christiane Vulpius" in the spa park.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 456 guests.

Goethe Theatre (456 seats), Historic Kursaal (199 people in rows, 120 banquet-style), Genscher Hall, Small Kursaal (25–30 people) and the Vulpius Pavilion for civil weddings. Use must suit the cultural-historical character of the rooms.

Plan your visit