Architectural Tour in the Great House: Cottbus Experiences Art Nouveau as Living Theatre Art

Art Nouveau as Stage Space: The Great House Reveals Its Secrets

This architectural tour takes you deep into the Great House of the Cottbus State Theatre, a building that has been breathing in Art Nouveau, classical accents, and the handwriting of Bernhard Sehring's cultural history since 1908. On Sunday, 09.08.2026, the tour begins at 10:00 AM and combines theater atmosphere, architectural history, and sensual spatial perception into a special stage experience. ([staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/offenes-staatstheater/artikel-fuehrungen-zur-architektur-und-geschichte-des-grossen-hauses.html))

A Theatre Building Like a Total Artwork

Even the first glance at the Great House shows why this building is much more than a venue. Bernhard Sehring designed the house as an artfully composed ensemble of architecture, craft, painting, and sculpture. The tour opens a view of the auditorium, the foyers, sculptural details, and the exterior areas, where the idea of the total artwork unfolds particularly impressively. ([cottbus-news.de](https://www.cottbus-news.de/en/events/theater/architectural-tour-through-and-around-the-great-house-of-the-cottbus-state-theatre-26071507060841))

Spaces that Tell Stories

Those walking through the house sense the special dramaturgy of the building: paths, sight lines, and ornamental details tell of an era in which theater construction itself became a staging. The Great House was opened in 1908 after only 16 months of construction; this compression of speed, ambition, and design still shapes the character of the house today. In the tour, not only the architectural lines appear, but also the cultural identity of the city of Cottbus in clear form. ([staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/offenes-staatstheater/artikel-fuehrungen-zur-architektur-und-geschichte-des-grossen-hauses.html))

A Tour for Culture Enthusiasts and Architecture Lovers

The public Sunday tour is aimed at everyone who wishes to experience theater not only as a performance venue but as a vibrant cultural space. The group size is limited, and tickets are only available in advance at CottbusService until Saturday at 14:00 or as a print@home ticket until shortly before the start. The tour lasts 90 minutes and ends at 11:30 AM. ([cottbus-news.de](https://www.cottbus-news.de/en/events/theater/architectural-tour-through-and-around-the-great-house-of-the-cottbus-state-theatre-26071507060841))

Access, Accessibility, and Visitor Comfort

The Great House is located at Schillerplatz 1 in 03046 Cottbus. It is easily accessible, among other options via bus lines 3N, 19, 29, and 47, as well as tram line 3 to August-Bebel-Straße. For the visit, a hearing loop and wheelchair accessibility are available; registration is recommended. Parking is available in the city center, for example at the nearby City Parking Garage at August-Bebel-Straße 3. ([staatstheater-cottbus.de](https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de/de/programm/offenes-staatstheater/artikel-fuehrungen-zur-architektur-und-geschichte-des-grossen-hauses.html))

Conclusion

This architectural tour presents the Cottbus State Theatre as a work of art, a memorial site, and a vibrant cultural temple at the same time. Those who want to experience the interplay of Art Nouveau, theater history, and city identity firsthand should not miss this date and discover the Great House live. ([cottbus-news.de](https://www.cottbus-news.de/en/events/theater/architectural-tour-through-and-around-the-great-house-of-the-cottbus-state-theatre-26071507060841))

Official Channels of the Cottbus State Theatre:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staatstheatercottbus
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StaatstheaterCottbus
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StaatstheaterCottbus
• Website: https://www.staatstheater-cottbus.de

Sources:

• Cottbus State Theatre - Tours on Architecture and History of the Great House
• Cottbus News - Architectural Tour - Cottbus State Theatre 2026
• Cottbus Tourism - Architecture Path
• Cottbus State Theatre - Contact and Directions
• Cottbus Utilities - City Parking Garage
• miz.org - Cottbus State Theatre
• Theaterkompass - Cottbus State Theatre