--- title: "Old Bach Monument, St. Thomas Church" url: "https://www.leipzig.travel/en/poi/old-stream-monument-thomas-church" description: "The Old Bach Monument is located in the green spaces on Dittrichring, southwest of St. Thomas Church, opposite house number 8. It is the world's oldest monument to Johann Sebastian Bach and was initiated by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in 1843.Mendelssohn first formulated his idea of erecting a monument to the former cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig in a letter in 1838 with the words: \"J. S. Bach was a splendid old man. We now want to erect a small monument to him here in front of St. Thomas' School.\" The majority of the required funds were raised through three benefit concerts. These included a concert in the Gewandhaus with the Gewandhaus Orchestra.The four-sided relief of the sandstone monument depicts various Bach motifs. Herrmann Knaur, a Leipzig sculptor, erected it based on a design by Eduard Bendemann, Ernst Rietschel and Julius Hübner. The inauguration took place on April 23, 1843 near the Thomas School." language: "en" type: "Place" image: "https://dam.destination.one/922968/a682a830ef560b73604740ba5efe6a4df7cd79cb5a2b3c335461ffd5b18fb6d8/old-bach-monument-leipzig-composers.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > Leipzig Travel > Special > Destination.Data Details > Poi" --- Share Old Bach Monument, St. Thomas Church ==================================== - Venue - Monument Old Bach Monument - Leipzig composers The world's oldest Bach memorial has stood not far from St. Thomas Church since 1843. The Old Bach Monument is located in the green spaces on Dittrichring, southwest of St. Thomas Church, opposite house number 8. It is the world's oldest monument to Johann Sebastian Bach and was initiated by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in 1843. Mendelssohn first formulated his idea of erecting a monument to the former cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig in a letter in 1838 with the words: "J. S. Bach was a splendid old man. We now want to erect a small monument to him here in front of St. Thomas' School." The majority of the required funds were raised through three benefit concerts. These included a concert in the Gewandhaus with the Gewandhaus Orchestra. The four-sided relief of the sandstone monument depicts various Bach motifs. Herrmann Knaur, a Leipzig sculptor, erected it based on a design by Eduard Bendemann, Ernst Rietschel and Julius Hübner. The inauguration took place on April 23, 1843 near the Thomas School. Read more Good to know ------------ Payment methods Entrance Free Directions & Parking facilities Public transportation: The nearest stop is Thomaskirche (line 9, 89). The destination is about 87 m on foot from there. By car: The monument is located in the center of Leipzig and can be reached via Dittrichring. The nearest possible parking facility is the underground parking garage at the Thomaskirche (Q-Park Marktgalerie). Read more Organization Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH License (master data) Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH Our recommendations ------------------- View on map - WC - Church Nearby ------ View on map - Event - Show - Show - Show - Place of interest - Orchestras & Ensembles - Orchestras & Ensembles - Museum/art collection - Tours 5.56 km - Themed hiking trail 29.99 km - Pilgrimage route 281.32 km - Cycling Contact Dittrichring 8 04109 Leipzig