Köthen (Anhalt) between the palace park and Bach

Köthen (Anhalt) combines a palace park to enjoy year-round with Bach’s history and special collections. Walks beneath old trees go hand in hand with musical and linguistic history, a historic bird collection and the stories of the washerwomen. You can shape your stay around whichever appeals to you more: time outdoors or cultural discoveries.

A palace park with a variety of garden styles

In the palace park, walks lead beneath old trees and along the moat throughout the year. Its design evolved from a Renaissance garden to an English landscape park; the park is part of Saxony-Anhalt’s Gartenträume park network. Anyone interested in garden design can trace its historic origins and later landscape design here. The park thus offers a distinctive focus alongside the cultural history explored in the palace and collections.

The palace and Bach’s history

The palace lies north of the old town on an island at the southern edge of the Zietheniederung. From 1717 to 1723, it was Johann Sebastian Bach’s workplace as court Kapellmeister. Today, it serves as a cultural centre and a hub for the preservation of Baroque music. Its historic role as Bach’s workplace and its present-day cultural role represent two distinct periods that shape Köthen for music lovers.

Inside the palace, the Erlebniswelt Deutsche Sprache explores the history of the German language and linguistic phenomena. The history of the 17th-century Fruitbearing Society serves as its point of entry. Linguistic history thus complements the musical perspective: the same palace focuses on two distinct themes that can also be explored independently.

Collections and special exhibits

The Naumann Museum preserves an almost unaltered bird collection from the early 19th century: it comprises around 1,300 specimens in 113 original display cases. The museum also houses a complete scholarly work, regarded as unique worldwide and still kept at its original location. The combination of collection and work gives this place a different focus from the palace and music history. Check current access to the museum separately before your visit.

St. Jakob’s Church houses an almost entirely original Ladegast organ, as well as the princely crypt with 40 richly decorated coffins belonging to the House of Anhalt-Köthen. The Hahnemann House was Samuel Hahnemann’s former home and workplace; the flue from his laboratory has been preserved inside. The organ, crypt and a tangible trace of earlier laboratory work show how varied the town’s historical themes are.

Wildlife park and guided walks

Köthen Wildlife Park lies in the heart of the Fasanerie and welcomes families in both summer and winter. Seating is available at regular intervals. This makes for a different kind of outing than the palace and collections; check the current opening hours when planning your visit.

Historical town tours explore Köthen through the stories of Johann Sebastian Bach and the washerwomen. If you would like a guided tour to be a highlight of your stay, confirm its current availability before travelling. Köthen is accessible by bicycle, car or train. The Köthen Tourist Information Centre is located in the former princely palace. When looking for accommodation in Köthen, you can start by considering whether parks and outdoor spaces or cultural history and collections will shape your stay more.

Discover more destinations: Walternienburg, Zörbig, Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Osternienburger Land, Aken, Südliches Anhalt, Muldestausee, Zerbst/Anhalt

View the overarching travel overview: Anhalt-Bitterfeld.