To spot the Günter Grass House, look for two narrow pastel-colored townhouses just below the stepped red rooftops, standing side by side with a big blue sign stretched above the street reading “Günter Grass - Haus”; it’s right on your left as you walk down the cobbled lane.
Now, let’s dive into the world of one of Lübeck’s most creative spirits! Imagine you’re standing in front of this unassuming building on Glockengießerstraße, but just behind these doors lies a treasure trove dedicated to Günter Grass-the Nobel Prize winner who could wield a pen, a paintbrush, and a chisel with equal genius. Grass was born in Danzig in 1927 but found his heart’s home near Lübeck, just a hop away in Behlendorf. By the 1990s, this house didn’t just hold his secretarial team and archive-oh no, it became a genuine stage for literary and artistic adventures. In 2002, the city said, “Why not open it for everyone?” And voilà-the Günter Grass House was born.
There’s an air of mystery inside-each exhibition is like a detective story, asking you to peer into the tangle where literature meets visual art. Did you know Günter Grass was not only a groundbreaking writer but also a passionate sculptor and painter? He sculpted, he painted, he even doodled in between Nobel lectures. Walk through these doors and you’ll find dazzling collections: more than 1,400 original drawings, watercolors, prints, and manuscripts make up the heart of the museum. Every year to celebrate Grass’s birthday, a special part of the exhibition is swapped out and visitors-like you-can vote on what comes next. Think of it as Lübeck’s very own literary X-Factor, but with a little less singing, and perhaps more sketching.
The museum isn’t just about looking back. It’s a living, breathing hub. Step into the backyard-yes, there’s a secret medieval courtyard!-and you’ll find a sculpture garden dotted with works by Grass, like the whimsical “Der Butt im Griff.” In summer, this garden fills with laughter as a massive children’s festival takes flight, and every year light spills out for Lübeck’s Museum Night, when the old walls buzz with music and chatter.
Now, here’s a riddle for you: What do a stonemason, a novelist, a cook, and a football fan have in common? Why, Günter Grass, of course! The exhibition covers every quirky corner of his life, from his time as a soldier, to his culinary passions, right through to his intense friendship with former Chancellor Willy Brandt. It even explores his famous scandals-because what’s a Nobel Prize without a little controversy, eh? Past exhibition themes have hopped from “Grass and the Baltic Sea” to “Grass and Cookery” and-believe it or not-his fascination with religion and forests.
Digital magic is alive here too. Grab a headset for a virtual reality adventure inside “The Tin Drum,” Grass’s legendary debut novel. Suddenly, you’re seeing the world through the eyes of Oskar, his pint-sized protagonist. Or, try the augmented reality “crime scene tour,” where you help solve a mystery from the third volume of the trilogy, weaving through museum exhibits like a literary detective with a smartphone instead of a magnifying glass.
But wait, the excitement doesn’t stop at Grass’s own art. The museum celebrates other “multi-talented” giants-Goethe, Hermann Hesse, John Lennon, even Winston Churchill, who apparently found time between speeches to paint and paint some more. Some of Grass’s early sketches were discovered here by accident and displayed for the very first time-imagine being the person who finds vanished drawings of a Nobel Prize winner in a dusty corner.
Big names support this place, from actors to chancellors-all united in their fondness for the bearded bard of Behlendorf. And each visit promises something unexpected, whether it’s a special show about football passions or a jaw-dropping haul of photographs from writers like Orhan Pamuk.
So, as you look up at these historic facades, imagine Grass himself wandering these halls, scribbling ideas, sculpting clay, or planning a children’s festival while the bells of Lübeck rang out just overhead. Just like his novels, the Günter Grass House is a place where stories twist and tumble, art and politics collide, and laughter always finds a home alongside serious thought. Ready for a peek inside, or shall we next explore what secrets Lübeck’s ancient streets still have in store?
For further insights on the furnishings, location or the exhibition, feel free to navigate to the chat section below and inquire.
