In the footsteps of Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach on 21 March 1685. As the son of a family of musicians, he first came into contact with church and organ music at a young age. A significant insight into his formative childhood years is provided by an exhibition of his life's work at the Bachhaus in Eisenach.

• At the Bachhaus, one of Germany’s largest musician museums, you can explore one of the most significant exhibitions on Bach’s life and work, featuring over 300 original exhibits. Directly in front of the museum, you can admire the Bach monument.
  
  
• Three interactive experience stations, designed as a Bach organ, invite you to listen to original Bach compositions. These listening stations are located at key sites associated with Bach: in front of St. George’s Church, at the market square, at the Preacher Church and opposite the Bachhaus.

• It’s just a short walk to St. George’s Church, where Johann Sebastian Bach was baptized on 23 March 1685.

After the early death of his parents, he moved in with his older brother in Ohrdruf at the age of 10. From then on, he not only took over his education, but also laid the first musical foundations as his piano and organ teacher. At the age of 15, Bach received a scholarship to the Michaelis monastery school in Lüneburg and appeared as a choir singer. Three years later, he received his first position as a violinist in the court chapel of Duke Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar.

• As one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in central Germany, Ehrenstein Castle offers an exhibition that provides insights into the early years of Johann Sebastian Bach. In addition to numerous original documents proving Bach's school days in Ohrdruf, the exhibition includes five rooms restored in the Baroque style, where visitors can listen to many of his compositions.
  
  
• A few minutes' walk from the castle, you will find the church tower of St. Michael's Church, which can be visited by appointment.
  
  
• Three interactive experience stations, located in front of Ehrenstein Castle, St. Michael's Church and the Schuster Fountain, invite you to listen to original Bach works.
  
  

Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara had seven children, six of whom were born in Weimar. At the age of 29, Johann Sebastian Bach rose from court organist and chamber musician to concertmaster. His reputation as an organ virtuoso spread quickly and three years later he was offered a position as conductor at the princely court of Anhalt Köthen.

• The “Bach in Weimar” experience space in the Bastille of the City Palace provides information about the composer's years in Weimar. A freely accessible presentation focuses on Bach's activities at the Weimar court and his rise to concertmaster, among other things.
  
  
• Just a few minutes' walk from the City Palace, you can visit the City Church of St. Peter and Paul. Johann Sebastian Bach often gave concerts here and had two of his sons baptized at the baptismal font.
  
  
• Köthen Castle is home to the Historical Museum and Bach Memorial. Several themed rooms show life in the castle at the time of Johann Sebastian Bach in Köthen.
  
  

At the age of 38, Johann Sebastian Bach took up the post of cantor at Leipzig' St. Thomas Church.  This marked the beginning of the most productive creative period of his life: here, he composed masterpieces such as the St. Matthew Passion and the Christmas Oratorio. Bach died in Leipzig on 28 July 1750, at the age of 65.

• Located in the immediate vicinity is one of Leipzig’s oldest buildings: the Bosehaus. Today it houses the Bach Archive and the Bach Museum. In the Bach Archive, visitors can explore a comprehensive collection dedicated to the Bach family of musicians and discover one of the world's largest collections of original manuscripts by Johann Sebastian Bach.
  
  
• In the Leipzig Bach Museum, twelve themed rooms tell the story of the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach and his family. In an interactive exhibition, you can get hands-on: play baroque instruments or compare today's Leipzig with its historical counterpart. You can also visit the composer's room and experiment with music and sounds that accompanied and inspired Bach in his daily life..
  
  
• At St. Thomas Church, you can visit Bach’s final resting place. His grave, located in the chancel, is covered by a simple bronze plate and is always adorned with fresh flowers. 

Johann Sebastian Bach maintained a close connection with Dresden, the city of art and culture. Dresden was always a place of longing and refuge for him, but his ambitions to live there remained unfulfilled throughout his life. Bach visited Dresden several times, performed concerts, and was celebrated. His playing on the Silbermann organ in the Frauenkirche and numerous performances of his works testify to his admiration for Dresden. The Christmas Oratorio is now part of the regular repertoire during Advent, and his Passion works around Easter are also indispensable.  

• Probably one of the most authentic Bach locations in Dresden, just a few minutes' walk from the Dresden Semperoper, is the Frauenkirche on Neumarkt. Throughout the year, in honor of the 275th anniversary of his death, you can enjoy numerous performances of his timeless music here and at other venues across the city.