Bach's home town of Wechmar boasts six different sites associated with him and is known as the cradle of the Bach family of musicians. Since 1994 the Bach home, the Oberbackhaus (Upper Bakehouse), has contained a memorial to Bach and the Museum of Thuringian Musicians and Instrument-Makers. In the courtyard the largest of all the Bach family trees is to be seen.
Veit Bach died in 1619 in Wechmar. His second place of work was the Obermühle (Upper Mill), now restored to its state as in 1685. The mill dwelling-house contains an original Thuringian Bohlenstube, a room built entirely of solid wood, from 1585.
The oldest Thuringian school for both boys and girls dating from 1738 is still in existence here. Ernst Christian Bach worked there as cantor and teacher from 1777 to 1822. His employment there served to renew the Bach family's connection with the town of its origin.
With an advance reservation you can book a guided tour of Bach's home town (Bach Ticket). Along the "Weg der Urväter" (Path of his Ancestors) you visit the Bach-Stammhaus (Bach family home), Veit Bach's Obermühle (Upper Mill) and the Studnitz country house with the oldest Rococo room in rural Thuringia, dating from 1750, as well as St. Viti Kirche (St. Vitus' church), one of the largest village churches in Thuringia. The tour also includes the other buildings associated with the name Bach.
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10.00 - 17.00 and by arrangement.
