Jerusalemhaus
Memorial site in Wetzlar in the house where Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem lived, model for Goethe's "Werther"; literary counterpart to the Lottehaus.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The half-timbered house on Schillerplatz originally belonged to the printer Georg Ernst Winckler (1656–1728). He had moved to Wetzlar from Herborn in 1694, after the Reichskammergericht (Imperial Chamber Court) began its work in the city in 1693, and operated the first printing shop in Wetzlar in an adjoining house. Around 1740 the building was extended and received its characteristic double bay-window facade.
On the third floor, in 1772, the Brunswick legation secretary Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem rented a furnished apartment. The young lawyer, who worked at the Imperial Chamber Court, took his own life later that same year; his fate served Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as the model for the main character of his novel "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers".
Today, memorial rooms with middle-class furnishings of the 18th century, graphic portraits, maps and printed matter commemorate Jerusalem and the era of the Werther craze. The building also houses the administration of the Städtische Museen (municipal museums) and the Goethe-Werther-Bücherei, a library cared for by the Wetzlar Goethe Society. The house forms a literary pair with the Lottehaus and belongs to the network of national Goethe sites.
Highlights
- Memorial room for Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem, model for "Werther"
- Middle-class furniture of the 18th century
- Half-timbered house with double bay-window facade (around 1740)
- Goethe-Werther-Bücherei library in the house
Permanent exhibition
- Gedenkstätte Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem – Memorial rooms with 18th-century furniture, portraits, maps and prints commemorate the legation secretary who served as the model for Goethe's Werther.
- Operated by
- Städtische Museen Wetzlar (Stadt Wetzlar)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Children and young people aged 6 to 17, trainees and students |
| Children & teens | €2free up to age 5 · Children under 6 free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freePeople with severe disabilities enter free with valid ID. |
| Students & apprentices | €2 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2 per personFrom 10 people; groups of children, young people, trainees and students pay €1.50 per person. |
| Families | €72 adults with up to 3 children. |
The rate applies to both the Lottehaus and the Jerusalemhaus. School classes from Wetzlar and the accompanying teachers of student groups enter free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The house is not yet accessible and cannot be entered by wheelchair.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ernst-Leitz-Platz
From Wetzlar station take bus line 11 or 12 to the Ernst-Leitz-Platz stop.
By car
Parking available
Parking is available in the Avignon-Anlage and at the car park of the Neues Rathaus (new town hall).
Arrival via the A45 (exit Wetzlar-Süd, -Ost or -Nord) or via the B49 (exit Wetzlar Forum), toward the city center.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours can be booked through the municipal museums. |
