Arnstadt

Arnstadt is more than 1,300 years old and soothe oldest town in Central Germany. This region is also considered to be the original home of the Bach family, where many relatives of Johann Sebastian Bach lived and worked. The great master himself took up his first post as an organist in Arnstadt at the age of 18.
A real jewel in Arnstadt is “Mon plaisir”, the Baroque miniature world in the New Palace in the Castle Museum. As well as almost 400 figures, valuable tapestries, paintings and a porcelain collection are on show.
Wheat beer was also mentioned in writing for the first time here and brewing still continues in Arnstadt today. The author Eugenie John better known under the name Marlitt was born here. Her novels, which were the first bestseller in the world, were set in Arnstadt. Also, the fairytale writer Ludwig Bechstein spent his apprentice years in Arnstadt and dedicated some fine poems to the town.
With half-timbered houses, squares decorated with fountains and attractive religious buildings, Arnstadt’s picture of a romantic small town is complete.