Cities & Culture

Robert Schumann House Zwickau

This museum in Saxony is home to the world's largest collection of portraits, manuscripts and other documents relating to Robert and Clara Schumann. Here, the life and work of the musical couple is presented in a visually appealing exhibition.

Robert Schumann was born in the house on the corner of Zwickau's main market square in 1810. And that very building, in which the composer went on to live with his wife, pianist Clara Schumann, is now a museum, research centre and events venue. In fact, it is widely considered to be one of the finest museums dedicated to musicians in the whole of Germany. The collection, which is spread out across eight rooms, is more extensive than any other in the world. Valuable pictures, musical instruments, prints and personal mementoes, including a lock of hair and chess board, and 4,000 original manuscripts from the Schumanns' estate can be seen on display here.

The room in which Robert Schumann was born is fully kitted out with original furniture, including the standing desk at which Schumann worked on his compositions. Schumann's melodies resound thanks to the "Dancing Letters" sound installation and the ball runway. Looking through an opera glass dating from the 19th century, a coloured original scene image of the premiere of Schumann’s opera "Genoveva" appears in 3D. Opening times: Tuesday to Friday: 10 am–5 pm, Saturday and Sunday: 1 pm–5 pm

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