page_title: European Route of Historic Theatres
section_title: German Route
hierarchical_section_title: European Route of Historic Theatres / Routes / German Route
caption_attribution_description: English: Stage of Ekhof-Theatre Deutsch: Bühne des Ekhof-Theaters
context_page_description: The European Route of Historic Theatres is a holiday route and European Cultural Route, that runs through many European countries. It links cities with important historic theatres from the 16th to 19th centuries.
  This cultural route was initiated by the members of the organisation, Perspectiv – Association of Historic Theatres in Europe, which was founded in October 2003 with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of historic theatres in Europe. The head offices of this charitable association are in the Goethe town of Bad Lauchstädt and city of Berlin. The project is supported by the Culture programme of the European Union.
  The European Route of Historic Theatres originally consisted of five individually named routes: the German Route, the Nordic Route, The Channel Route, the Italian Route and the Emperor Route. Each links between 9 and 12 towns and cities with important theatre traditions. Cultural tourists can travel directly from the start or finish of any route to another nearby route.
  In 2014, two more routes were added: the French and Adriatic Routes. Other routes planned are: the Baltic and Iberian Routes; and the Alpine and Black Sea Routes.
context_section_description: Putbus – Putbus Theatre, opened in 1821 and converted in 1826 into the North German Classicist style, → links to the Nordic Route via Rønne (Bornholm).
  Neubrandenburg – the Schauspielhaus, a baroque timber-framed building with cob brickwork dating to 1793/94, built as a summer venue for the court theatre of Duke Adolphus Frederick IV of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
  Potsdam – Rococo Theatre in the New Palace in Sanssouci Park, built from 1763 to 1769 under the Prussian king, Frederick II.
  Bad Lauchstädt – Goethe Theatre, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had this theatre built in 1802 to his concepts as a summer playhouse.
  Großkochberg – the Liebhaber Theatre in Kochberg Castle dating to 1800, former seat of Charlotte von Stein.
  Gotha – Ekhof Theatre, was built from 1681 to 1683 in a corner tower at Friedenstein Castle and may still be seen its original 1775 setting. It is reckoned as the first of the modern German theatres.
  Meiningen – Theatre Museum and Court Theatre, important surviving theatre reform under Duke George II, first court theatre built in 1831, the present one in 1909, architect: Karl Behlert; Theatre Museum (since 1999) with scener from the reform period.
  Bayreuth – Margravial Opera House, Margravine Wilhelmine had the opera house built in 1746–50, the exterior in the French Classicist style, the interior in the Italian Baroque, designed by Giuseppe Galli da Bibiena, → link to the Emperor Route (from 2011).
  Ludwigsburg – the Palace Theatre in Ludwigsburg Palace. It was built in 1758 by Philippe de la Guêpière for Duke Charles Eugene of Württemberg. In 1812 the auditorium was converted into the Classicist style, was played until 1853 and is still fully preserved today.
  Schwetzingen – Rococo theatre, built in  1752/53 by the architect Nicolas de Pigage, oldest surviving Rangtheater in Europe.
  Hanau – Comoedienhaus Wilhelmsbad, at the former spa of Wilhelmsbad, opened on 8 July 1781, built to plans by Franz Ludwig von Cancrin.
  Koblenz – Koblenz Theatre, Elector and Bishop Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony had a comedy, opera, ballroom and assembly house built which was inaugurated on 23 November 1787 → link to the Channel Route via Chimay.
caption: Stage of the Ekhof Theatre
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