Goldener Löwe Eisenach, SPD-Gedenkstätte

The Goldener Löwe is a memorial housed in a former guesthouse on Marienstrasse in Eisenach's old town, with exhibits focusing on the labor movement. The space contains documents, photographs, and personal items that trace the development of early social democracy through everyday historical records.

This building hosted the founding congress of the Social Democratic Workers' Party in 1869, led by August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht. That gathering launched a political movement that would reshape German labor politics for decades to come.

The exhibitions document struggles of working people and show how labor movements shaped German society. Visitors see letters, photographs, and personal items that reveal the daily lives of those who fought for workers' rights.

The memorial is normally open on weekdays, and group visits can be arranged in advance. It helps to allow time for reading the exhibition materials, as many details require careful attention to understand the historical context.

The original congress had to be moved to another venue after political rivals disrupted the meeting. This reveals how contested and energetic political debates were at that moment in German history.

Location: Eisenach

GPS coordinates: 50.96880,10.32250

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:28