Reuter-Wagner-Museum
Villa of the writer Fritz Reuter in Eisenach, with his original living quarters and the largest Richard Wagner collection outside Bayreuth.
About the museum
Between 1866 and 1868, the Low German writer Fritz Reuter had a Neo-Renaissance villa built at the foot of the Wartburg. It was designed by the architect Ludwig Bohnstedt, and the garden was planned by Ferdinand Jühlke. Reuter lived here until his death in 1874; his widow Luise lived in the house until 1894.
After her death, the villa passed to the town of Eisenach. In 1895, the town also acquired the Richard Wagner collection of the Viennese collector Nikolaus Oesterlein, through the mediation of the journalist Joseph Kürschner, and housed it in the villa. In 1897, the first exhibition opened, uniting Reuter's living quarters and the Wagner collection under one roof. Since 1958, the museum has been part of the Thüringer Museum Eisenach.
The Wagner collection comprises some 26,000 items: a library of about 5,500 volumes, thousands of newspaper clippings, around 200 original letters by Wagner, manuscripts, playbills, photographs, busts, and art objects. The current presentation was redesigned in 1997. Between 2016 and 2021, the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar digitized large parts of the holdings.
Reuter's living quarters with their original furnishings can be seen on the main floor (Beletage). The salon is used for concerts, readings, and civil wedding ceremonies.
Highlights
- The world's second-largest Richard Wagner collection after Bayreuth
- Original living quarters of the writer Fritz Reuter
- Around 200 original letters by Richard Wagner
- Neo-Renaissance villa by Ludwig Bohnstedt at the foot of the Wartburg
Permanent exhibitions
- Wagner-Sammlung Eisenach – Redesigned in 1997, the presentation of the Oesterlein collection shows letters, manuscripts, playbills, portraits, and books relating to Richard Wagner.
- Fritz Reuters Wohnräume – The main floor with its original furnishings shows how the writer and his wife lived in Eisenach.
- Founded
- 1897
- Operated by
- Stadt Eisenach (Thüringer Museum Eisenach)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
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| Reduced | €2School students aged 12 and over, university students, people with severe disabilities, holders of the Stadtpass (city pass) |
| Children & teens | –The reduced rate applies to school students aged 12 and over; no price for children under 12 is listed. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €2Reduced rate. |
| Students & apprentices | €2Reduced rate. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personGroups of 10 or more: €3 per person. |
| Families | €3Family ticket only for holders of the Eisenach Stadtpass. |
| Combination ticket Thüringer Museum (Stadtschloss, Predigerkirche, Reuter-Wagner-Museum) | €9reduced €5 |
| Annual pass Thüringer Museum Eisenach | €40 |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
No parking directly at the building; the parking lots on Kurstraße are recommended.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
- Weddings / ceremonies
Civil wedding ceremonies in Reuter's salon; dates through the Standesamt Eisenach (registry office).
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Good to know | Concerts, readings, and workshops according to the Thüringer Museum's events program. |
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