Guide to Bach Tour

Description & History
Altenburg (44,000 ihabitants) was recorded for the first time in the year 976. It was expanded to become an imperial palace under the Hohenstaufen emperors – Kaiser Friedrich Barbarossa stayed there on many occasions - and the settlement raised to the status of a free imperial city. In 1329, it fell into the hands of the Margraves of Meißen, and from 1603 to 1672 and again from 1826 to 1918 Altenburg was the residence of the dukes of Saxe-Altenburg. During the intervening period, it was the residence of the dukes of Saxe-Gotha. The town was one of the few to escape relatively unscathed from the damages wrought during the Second World War. However, in the decades after the war a good many streets and houses were demolished or fell into disrepair. Projects are afoot to put a stop to this process. The town's hillside location, with steep streets running up and down hill, lends Altenburg a certain charm and affords visitors some pretty views.

J.S. Bach was asked in Altenburg as organ specialist. The organ in the Palace Church was built by the Thuringian organ building master Tobias Gottfried Heinrich Trost. Bach praised the organ and his pupil Johann Ludwig Krebs was later court organist in Altenburg and carried on the Bach tradition. Today concerts are also performed in the Palace Church. One of the halls is named after Bach.

Events in Life History of J.S. Bach
Date/Year	Event
Leipzig (1731-1740)
1739	Organ examination and recital in Schloßkirche, Altenburg

Performance Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works: None.

Features of Interest	Information & Links
Rathaus and Markt Brühl, the oldest square in the town Schloß, including the church where Bach examined the organ and gave a recital. Lindenau-Museum	Stadt Altenburg [German] Altenburg-Online [German] Altenburg (Meinestadt) [German] Altenburg Tourismus [German] Altenburg (Wikipedia) [German/English] Cityreview: Thüringen > Altenburg [German]

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (March 2004)

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Last update: ýMarch 3, 2006 ý16:22:06