TOUR TO THE KÖTHEN AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Leipzig – Köthen (75 km)
This tour will take place again in 2027
The tour begins in Leipzig, where Bach spent a large portion of his life as director of music at St. Thomas. The following two cycling stages lead us via Halle on the river Saale to Köthen, where we will attend concert at the Köthen Bach Festival. Köthen has much to discover about Bach, who worked here for many years as court music director. Immerse yourself in Bach’s life for a short but intensive time: in addition to museums and churches, Köthen has in store for you a baroque evening meal, at which you can indulge in culinary dimensions of the baroque Köthen times.
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ITINERARY
DAY 1, SELF ORGANIZED ARRIVAL AND LEIPZIG
We meet at 1 pm at the hotel Michaelis in Leipzig. After an extensive tour around the city’s many Bach sites, there is an opportunity to visit the Bach Museum.
DAY 2, LEIPZIG – HALLE A. D. SAALE, 40 KM
We leave Leipzig cycling along the dikes of the White Elster. If the weather is nice, we take a lunch break with a bath at a lake. Afterwards we will reach the city center of Halle, check-in into our hotel and visit the Museum of the eldest Bach Son, the Wilhelm-Friedemann-Bach-House, and the George-Frederic-Handel- Museum, Handel being one famous Bach contemporary. We will then experience an organ tour at the Market Church, where Bach once tested the organ and young Handel learned to play it. We hear the amazing contrasts of these medium-toned and romantic instruments in direct comparison. We spend the evening together at a restaurant next to the Saale-river.
DAY 3, HALLE A. D. SAALE – KÖTHEN, 45 KM
We continue to the final stage of the trip to the residential city of Köthen after a stop at the lake Edderitz. In the evening, we will visit a concert of the Köthen Bach Festival. The detailed program of the festival will be announced in spring 2026.
DAY 4, KÖTHEN BACH FESTIVAL
Today we discover Bach’s traces during a guided tour of the city where he held his fourth employment at the royal court. Afterwards we visit the Bach exhibition in the city palace. In the afternoon and evening, we will listen to further concerts of Köthen Bach Festival at the original Bach places.
DAY 5, KÖTHEN BACH FESTIVAL
On Sunday morning there is a festive service with a Bach cantata. After lunch break, we visit the final concert of the festival. We will spend the evening together and will have a special baroque dinner like in Bach`s time.
DAY 6, DEPARTURE
After breakfast everyone will embark on their individual journey home. We wish all guests a safe journey
We have developed a sustainable tour concept and pay our tour guides, musicians and local partners fair wages.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- 5 nights at mid-range hotels incl. breakfast
- lunch packs or picnics (on cycling days)
- 1 dinner on the last day in Köthen (Bach Menu)
- Guided Tour
- Luggage transport from first to last hotel
- all entrance fees to museums and churches: Bach Museum Leipzig, Wilhelm-Friedemann-Bach-House Halle, Handel-House Halle, City Palace Köthen
- City tours in Leipzig and Köthen
- Organ tour and organ concert at Markt Church Halle
- concerts of Köthen Autumn Festival
- Sheet music and information leaflets on Bach’s compositions
- List of equipment
Changes reserved!
PRICES:
Double room per person: 1250,- €
Single room supplement: 190,- €
Optional extras:
Rental touring bike or rental e-bike; all bikes including delivery to first and pick-up from last hotel, bike bags or baskets and locks: on request
GROUP SIZE AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
The minimum number of participants for our tours is 15. If the minimum number is not reached, we reserve the right to withdraw from the tour contract. The corresponding declaration must be sent to you at least 29 days before the scheduled beginning of the tour.
The average group size is approximately 15 to 25 people.
