Schillers Geburtshaus

About the museum

The modest craftsman's house on Niklastorstraße was built in the 1690s on the remains of an earlier building destroyed in Marbach's great fire of 1693; its trapezoidal floor plan is still recognizable today. Johann Caspar Schiller and his wife Elisabeth Dorothea, daughter of the impoverished innkeeper of the Löwen inn, Georg Friedrich Kodweiß, rented just a single room on the first floor, while the owner of the house, a bag maker, lived and worked upstairs. Friedrich Schiller was born here on November 10, 1759; the family left Marbach shortly after his fourth birthday.

It was not until 1812 that a Marbach citizen had older residents testify before the Oberamt (district office) as to which house Schiller had been born in. The "Verein für Schillers Denkmal" (Association for Schiller's Monument), founded in 1835 and known today as the Schillerverein Marbach, initially lost out to Stuttgart in the dispute over the first Schiller monument. In 1857 it bought the birthplace and opened it as a memorial on the poet's 100th birthday, November 10, 1859 – one of the oldest literary memorial sites in the German-speaking world. The association still runs the museum today.

The exhibition illustrates Schiller's early childhood with items such as his christening bonnet, a boy's suit and portraits of his parents, and offers insight into everyday life in a small Württemberg town in the 18th century. A second section uses media stations to explore the veneration of Schiller around the world. In 2024 the association acquired the neighboring house in order to expand the museum: plans include a learning space for school classes, more exhibition space, a new entrance area with a shop and, as far as possible, an accessible entrance.

Highlights

• First-floor room where the Schiller family lived as tenants
• Schiller's christening bonnet and a boy's suit from his childhood
• Portraits of Schiller's parents
• Media stations on the veneration of Schiller worldwide
• Costumed guided tour of the birthplace and Marbach's old town

Permanent exhibitions

• Schillers Kindheit in Marbach und die Schillerverehrung – Original items such as a christening bonnet and a boy's suit tell of Schiller's first years and of small-town life in the 18th century; a second section shows how Schiller was venerated around the world.

Founded

1859

Operated by

Schillerverein Marbach am Neckar e. V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

Historic craftsman's house; according to the Schillerverein, the expansion into the neighboring house is intended to make the museum accessible as far as possible in the old building.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Bookable children's tour (about 1 hour) on Schiller's childhood and the lives of children in the 18th century – with a small souvenir gift. The Landesfamilienpass (state family pass) is valid.

Getting there & parking

About a 10-minute walk from the boat landing along Bottwartalstraße.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit