Contents

Description | History
J..S. Bach: Connection | Events in Life History | Performance Dates of Vocal Works
Features of Interest | Information & Links
Photos: Part 1 | Part 2 | Maps

Description

Bad Berka is a small town (7,800 inhabitants) in Thuringia. It is situated on the river Ilm, 10 km southwest of Weimar, in spruce and beech forest.

History

Due to its sulphur baths, Bad Berka is well-known as a health resort (or spa town), the spa having been established in 1813.

Bad Berka was once celebrated for its Cistercian nunnery, founded in 1251. It is twinned with Żabno in Poland. The Party.San Open Air music festival takes place outside of the town.

Bach Connection

C1742, while he was serving in Leipzig, J.S. Bach visited Bad Berka to examine the new organ built by H.N. Trebs (28 stops and 3 sections). J.S. Bach himself drew up the specification for this organ (only the Prospekt is original, but is very fine). The specification survives, as indeed the only one from J.S. Bach to have so done.

Events in Life History of J.S. Bach

Date/Year

Event

Leipzig (1741-1750)

1742

Organ examination in Bad Berka

Performance Dates of J.S. Bach’s Vocal Works: None.

Features of Interest

Stadtkirche Sankt Marien

Information & Links

Bad Berka (Official Website) [German]
Cityreview: Thüringen > Bad Berka [German]
Bad Berka (Meinestadt) [German]
Bad Berka (Wikipedia)

Prepared by Aryeh Oron (March 2004 - December 2007)
Thanks to contributors: Francis Monkman (December 2007)

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