Mendelssohn-Haus Leipzig

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The late Neoclassical residential building on what was then Königstraße was built in 1844. Just a year later, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy – Gewandhaus Kapellmeister in Leipzig since 1835 – moved into the piano nobile with his family. Here he wrote parts of the oratorio "Elias" (Elijah), among other works; here he received guests such as Clara and Robert Schumann and Hans Christian Andersen; and here he died on November 4, 1847.

Of the composer's many residences, this is the only one that has survived. On the initiative of Gewandhaus Kapellmeister Kurt Masur, the dilapidated building was rescued and restored after 1990. To mark the 150th anniversary of Mendelssohn's death, the faithfully reconstructed apartment opened as a museum on November 4, 1997; it is run by the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Stiftung.

In 2014 the first floor was added with a modern, interactive exhibition whose centerpiece is the Effektorium – a virtual orchestra that visitors can conduct themselves. For the 20th anniversary in 2017, the third floor followed, with exhibitions on Mendelssohn's sister Fanny Hensel and on Kurt Masur, whose international institute has been based in the building since 2016.

Chamber music is performed in the historic music salon every Sunday. In 2018, together with other sites along the Leipzig Music Trail (Leipziger Musikstraße), the house was awarded the European Heritage Label.

Highlights

• Faithfully reconstructed apartment with study and music salon
• Effektorium: conduct a virtual orchestra yourself
• Exhibition on Fanny Hensel
• Exhibition on the life and work of Kurt Masur
• Sunday matinees in the historic music salon
• Garden with garden house

Permanent exhibitions

• Mendelssohns Wohnung (Beletage) – The reconstructed apartment presents the composer's study, music salon, family furniture, letters, scores, and watercolors in the place where he spent his final years.
• Effektorium und Musikausstellung im Erdgeschoss – Interactive rooms bring Mendelssohn's music to life; in the Effektorium, visitors conduct a virtual orchestra made up of 13 sound columns.
• Fannys Welt und Kurt-Masur-Ausstellung – The third floor introduces the composer Fanny Hensel and the conductor Kurt Masur, who initiated the museum.

Founded

1997

Operated by

Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Stiftung

Director

Patrick Schmeing

Admission & discounts

The cabinet exhibition in the garden house is free. Concert reservations expire after 7 days and must be picked up no later than 30 minutes before the start.

Accessibility

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

Certified under "Sachsen Barrierefrei": step-free access or ramp, elevator (door 90 cm), wheelchair-accessible restroom. Audio guide also available in Easy Language (according to Leipzig Tourismus).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Discovery booklet with puzzles and a stamp card; in the Effektorium, children conduct a virtual orchestra. The children's museum in the Remise offers tours, scavenger hunts, and music workshops for ages 4 to 18, as well as holiday workshops and children's birthday parties.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Small museum café and garden; museum shop with books, CDs, and souvenirs, plus an online shop.

Events & venue rental

Private chamber concerts in the music salon can be arranged as part of a guided tour.

Plan your visit