Haus Freiheit

On the banks of the Rhine, nestled amongst the remnants of the Kaiserswerth Imperial Palace, stands Haus Freiheit. This isn’t just a house. It’s a time capsule, whispering stories of creativity, resilience, and a love affair with the arts. Haus Freiheit became a beacon for cultural figures in the 1920s. Think Thomas Mann, Gerhard Hauptmann, Richard Strauss, and Hermann Hesse. Even Heinz Rühmann, publisher Heinrich Droste, and the Rhineland patrons van Meeteren and Buller graced its halls. The heart and soul of Haus Freiheit was Herbert Eulenberg, a playwright and author. He moved here in 1905, transforming it into a haven for artists and intellectuals. Eulenberg, born in 1876, had a prolific career, penning plays that captivated audiences until the 1920s. He, along with painter Arthur Kaufmann and Adolf Uzarski, founded “Das Junge Rheinland” in 1918. This group of Rhineland artists, including prominent names like Max Ernst and Otto Dix, rivaled the likes of “Die Brücke” and “Der Blaue Reiter.” They drew inspiration from masters like Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and van Gogh, and cultivated friendships with modernists like Kandinsky, Klee, Matisse, and Picasso. Haus Freiheit wasn’t just a gathering place. It was Eulenberg’s sanctuary, where he lived and worked until his death in 1949. He even found his final resting place in the house’s garden. His wife, Hedda Eulenberg, a renowned translator who introduced German readers to the works of Edgar Allan Poe, shared this life of art and literature. She too, spent most of her life at Haus Freiheit, passing away within its walls in 1960. She rests beside Herbert in the garden. Haus Freiheit stands as a testament to their enduring legacy. The house itself is a character in their story. Built upon the old fortress walls, it offers a picturesque view of the Rhine. Photographs from around 1960 offer a glimpse into the past. The living room, with its distinctive fireplace, serves as a backdrop for countless conversations and creative sparks. Haus Freiheit is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a living memory, a tribute to a time when art and literature thrived on the banks of the Rhine.