Schillerhaus Rudolstadt

About the museum

The Schillerhaus commemorates the summer of 1788 that Friedrich Schiller spent in Rudolstadt. Here the poet met the sisters Charlotte von Lengefeld and Caroline von Beulwitz, whose families lived in the house; Charlotte later became his wife. For Schiller, this ended a period of restless wandering, and he found renewed confidence in his writing.

The house also saw the first personal meeting between Schiller and Goethe on September 7, 1788. It was initially marked by distance and only grew into a friendship years later in Jena. At that time a circle interested in literature and politics had formed around the court and legation councillor Friedrich von Beulwitz.

The living quarters of the Lengefeld and Beulwitz families were restored between 2005 and 2009 and now house the multimedia exhibition. On display are, among others, the Goethe-Schiller Room, the Beulwitz Salon, and the Caroline Room. The museum is run by the city of Rudolstadt; concerts, film screenings, and readings take place in the park-like garden.

Highlights

• Goethe-Schiller Room on their first meeting in 1788
• Restored living rooms of the Lengefeld and Beulwitz families
• Multimedia permanent exhibition
• Garden with bistro and events
• Children's audio guide and explorer tours

Permanent exhibitions

• Schillers Rudolstädter Sommer 1788 – Multimedia exhibition in the restored living rooms of the Lengefeld and Beulwitz families about Schiller's stay in Rudolstadt.
• Goethe-Schiller-Zimmer – The room covers the distant relationship between the two poets and their first meeting in September 1788.

Operated by

Stadt Rudolstadt

Director

Christian Hofmann

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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 café/restaurant, event rooms, museum shop, and garden are accessible by wheelchair and rollator; the exhibition on the upper floor is not barrier-free for reasons of heritage protection. Accessible toilet with changing table. There is a disabled parking space on Schillerstraße.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Children's audio guide, explorer tours for families, the hands-on program "Spielerisch Entdecken" (about 45 minutes, registration requested), and a Schiller city map for a walking tour of the town.

Getting there & parking

Bike racks at the restaurant entrance (access from Große Allee); Rudolstadt lies on the Saale cycle path.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Schiller! Bistro in the garden (run by the Schillerhaus friends' association), flammkuchen and drinks; in 2026 Thursday to Saturday 18:00–23:00 from late April to late September. Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 35 guests.

Rooms can be hired for up to 35 people during museum opening hours, with coffee and cake on request. Weddings in the Lengefeld Salon (up to 16 guests) or in the garden (up to 25 guests) via the Rudolstadt registry office (Standesamt); catering through the bistro.

Plan your visit