Schillerhaus (Schiller House), Leipzig

The Schiller House, located on Mencke Street (Menckestraße) in the Gohlis district of Leipzig, is a small former farmhouse that holds a significant place in literary history. This quaint building, dating back to 1717, is the oldest preserved farmhouse in the Leipzig city area and now serves as a memorial and branch of the Leipzig City History Museum.

Originally constructed as a single-story main house with a living area, a hall (black kitchen), and a stable, it was part of a modest three-sided farm in what was once the village of Gohlis. Built from clay using corrugated construction, the farmhouse was later expanded in the second half of the 18th century to accommodate summer guests, including an upper floor where the stable had been.

The house gained historical prominence when Friedrich Schiller, then a 25-year-old playwright, resided on the upper floor from May 7 to September 11, 1785. During his stay, Schiller worked on the second act of "Don Carlos," edited "Fiesco," and wrote the first version of the famous poem "A die Freude" ("Ode to Joy"), which he later completed in Dresden. Schiller's stay was facilitated by his friends, including the lawyer Christian Gottfried Körner and publisher Georg Joachim Göschen, who was living in the building's former stable section.

The Schiller House has seen many changes over time. In 1949, control shifted from the Schiller Association to the Kulturbund and eventually to the city of Leipzig, becoming part of the Leipzig City History Museum in 1961. Renovations in the 1960s and 1980s altered its original appearance. By 1995, the house faced closure due to structural risks, but restoration work from 1997 to 1998 allowed it to reopen on October 28, 1998. In 2002, the gardens were redesigned to reflect a historical farm garden model, enhancing the site's historical feel.

Today, the Schiller House stands as a testament to Leipzig's rich cultural heritage, preserving the legacy of one of Germany's most celebrated literary figures and offering visitors a glimpse into the past.