Not far from Gotha is the birthplace of the Bach family of musicians in the historical centre of Wechmar town. Several original sites can still be found there today, including the “Oberbackhaus” bakehouse and the “Obermühle” mill. As the “Bach-Stammhaus”, the Oberbackhaus has been the internationally recognised Bach memorial since 1994. It houses the oldest original residence and working place for the Bach family. Veit Bach (probably around 1590 to 1626) and his son Hans Bach lived here. They were in the bakery trade and played music on the side. Veit Bach is the oldest guaranteed ancestor of the famous family of musicians and the great-great-grandfather of the world-famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Exhibits on the life and work of the Wechmar Bachs from the period around 1600 are clearly displayed in the Bach memorial. Another exhibition is dedicated to the era of the teacher and cantor Ernst Christian Bach. This respected man died in 1822 as the last representative of the Bach lineage in Wechmar. It is thanks to this respect that the citizens of this town have been preserving this important heritage since 1888. The links between the individual Bachs can be clearly seen illustrated on the largest Bach family tree. The Museum of Thuringian Musicians and Instrument Makers has also been housed in the Bach-Stammhaus since 1997.