54 Reuter-Wagner Museum in Eisenach
54 Reuter-Wagner Museum in Eisenach
Fritz Reuter, born in 1810, was one of the most famous writers of the 19th century.
In 1866, Fritz Reuter purchased a plot of land at the foot of the Wartburg in the Helltal valley and commissioned Ludwig Bohnstedt to build a house, which was completed in 1868 in the Neo-Renaissance style.
After his death in 1874 and that of his wife Louise, the villa passed according to his will to the Schiller Foundation.
A year later, the city of Eisenach purchased the villa and established a museum dedicated to the Low German poet.
The history of the Richard Wagner collection began in Austria.
Nicolaus Oesterlein began assembling portraits, busts, letters, writings, theater programs, and an extensive library of about 5,000 volumes during Richard Wagner’s lifetime.
In 1887, he opened a private museum in Vienna, but soon had to sell the collection.
Eisenach citizen Professor Josef Kürschner advocated for the city of Eisenach to purchase the collection.
In 1895, the collection was housed in Fritz Reuter’s villa and was opened to the public in 1897.
It is the second-largest Richard Wagner collection after Bayreuth.
Additional information:
Reuter-Wagner Museum
Reuterweg 2, 99817 Eisenach
Tel.: 03691 / 74 32 93
Fax: 03691 / 74 32 94