Bachkirche Arnstadt, Protestant church in Arnstadt, Germany
Bachkirche Arnstadt is a Protestant church in Thuringia with Baroque-style interiors, high ceilings, wooden pews, and ornamental decoration throughout the space. At the center of the choir stands the original organ from the early 1700s, which is the heart of the building.
Johann Sebastian Bach arrived as organist at this church in 1703 at age 18, marking the beginning of his professional career. During his years here, he developed the skills that would later make him one of Europe's greatest composers.
The church draws visitors today because of its living connection to Bach, which you feel when looking at the organ and the spaces where the composer worked daily. People come here to experience the time when Bach composed and performed at this instrument.
Visitors can explore the church to see the organ and interior spaces, with regular concerts offering organ music in an authentic setting. The best time to visit is in the afternoon when sunlight highlights the Baroque decorations.
The organ that Bach played and modified is one of Germany's oldest functioning instruments and sounds similar to how it did in Bach's time. This longevity and continuity make the church a rare place where you can hear music as it once sounded.
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