Faust-Museum

Description

The Faust Museum, established in 1980 in the old town hall—a 19th-century half-timbered building—is well known far beyond the region's borders. It is neither a Goethe museum nor a local history museum, but a comprehensive presentation of the Faust myth. Its documentation ranges from the myth's historical origin, which began around 1480 in Knittlingen as the birthplace of the historical Georg Johann Faust, through oral transmission (the "oral poetry"), chapbooks and puppet plays, to the various literary interpretations of the Faust myth from Goethe to Thomas Mann. All other media—music, theater and film—continue to take up the theme to this day. In the chronologically arranged exhibition, "Faust" proves endlessly adaptable: in a wide variety of contexts the Faustian dilemma of making a pact with evil has been placed—yet the core of the myth remains consistent across its many adaptations. That Faust had made a pact with the devil only emerged after the death of the historical Faust around 1540. The Knittlingen Faust was stylized as a devil's confederate, but according to scholarship, as documented by the Faust Museum's sources, he was a man far ahead of his time: a charismatic astrologer, healer, scientist and alchemist. The historical Faust probably died as the result of a failed alchemical experiment. What connects him with the Faust of legend, Goethe’s Faust and all the other interpretations are above all the desire and curiosity, and probably also the inner urge to transcend limits. In the old Latin school next to Faust's birthplace, the Faust Archive houses an extensive specialist library on the subject of Faust. Throughout the year lectures, cultural events, concerts and exhibitions are held here in the baroque classroom. Audio guides can be rented at the Faust Museum for a loan fee of €2 per device. Learn everything about Faust, Mephisto and Gretchen—from the Renaissance to the present day. An audio experience with the unique voice of film and television actor Florian Fitz. The use of the VR headset is only possible by prior reservation at tel. no. 07043/373-453 or by email at faustmuseum@knittlingen.de. If you have any further questions, we will be happy to assist you.