London, 12 May 2009 - Design lovers should not miss Thuringia in Germany this year. Bauhaus, the most influential design school of the 20th century, was founded in the Thuringian town of Weimar 90 years ago, and the anniversary is celebrated with a number of special exhibitions and events in Weimar, Jena, Erfurt and Apolda and also Germany's capital Berlin. Visitors can make use of a special Bauhaus card and book Bauhaus breaks.
Weimar
In 1919 Walter Gropius established the Bauhaus School in the small town of Weimar and assembled the whole of the European avantgarde of the time including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Lyonel Feininger in Thuringia to teach at the new school of design. As the most famous example of Bauhaus architecture "Haus am Horn" was built as a model house for the first architecture exhibition in 1923.
Visitors to Weimar can book special guided tours "On the trail of the early Bauhaus masters", and the Bauhaus Museum in Weimar features the "Bauhaus - the classical view" exhibition until 5 July 2009.
Jena
The municipal theatre in Jena, demolished in the 80ies, was the first building ever to put Bauhaus principles into practice. Today, the villas "Haus Auerbach" and "Haus Zuckerkandl" still attest to Jena's commitment to the ideas of the Bauhaus.
In 2009, Kandinsky's paintings, drawings and prints are on display at Jena's town museum and art collection from 6 September to 22 November He worked as a teacher at the Bauhaus in Weimar, Dessau and Berlin and his close ties with promoters of art in Jena were reflected in a range of exhibitions. There is also a walking tour "From the Jena artists association to the present art scene" covering art-noveau style to Bauhaus and modernity.
Erfurt
In the 1920ies, industrialists, art patrons and local art associations promoted modern artists in Erfurt and provided platforms for their works. Shoe manufacturer Alfred Hess raised the profile of Bauhaus architecture by commissioning several commercial buildings in the city, now striking features of Erfurt's cityscape. Visitors can explore the city's Bauhaus heritage on a special tour this year.
Dessau
In 1926 the Bauhaus School moved from Weimar to Dessau, residing in a new building designed by Walter Gropius. Today's "Bauhaus Dessau - Centre of Design" is a vibrant institution specialising in experimental design, research and teaching and offers guided tours for visitors.
Furthermore, the "master houses" built in 1925/26 unite the Bauhaus concepts of living and working and visitors can tour the restored double house shared by Paul Kless and Wassily Kendinsky, the Muche/Schlemmer double house and the Feininger house.
Berlin
From 22 July to 4 October, Berlin's Martin Gropius Bau features the first joint exhibition of the three German Bauhaus institutions in Berlin, Dessau and Weimar. "Bauhaus Model" is organised in cooperation with the Museum of Modern Art in New York, showing the exhibition subsequently from 8 November 2009.
Bauhaus Card and Bauhaus breaks
Visitors buying tickets for one of the special Bauhaus exhibitions in Thuringia (Jena, Erfurt, Weimar and Apolda) can use their ticket to gain free entry to over 60 further tourist attractions in the whole of Thuringia.
The two-days/one night "Bauhaus and highlights of Thuringia" break starts from EUR 89 per person in a double room (three star hotel) and includes accommodation in one of the Bauhaus towns, the Bauhaus card and a Bauhaus information package.
