Despite all of this emphasis on church music during Bach's time, and the ca. 150 years of the Bach family, in reality, the churches today have minimal significance to the population as a whole. Although the churches are being renovated, and the music of Bach and others is being revived, the regular attendance at the churches is represented primarily by the older members of the community. The generation today, brought up during communism, has alsolutely no interest in religion, and although we revere the past, the churches appear to be "passe" in eastern Germany.
Arnstadt, nick-named "Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald" (the gate to the Thüringen woods), itself is a historic, and delightful, small town of ca. 30,000 inhabitants. It is the oldest town in Thüringen, founded in 703 A.D., and designated as a "Stadt" (town) in 1266. By this time, the high middle ages, the walls and moat of the town had been built. Initially it was a trading center especially for grains and wood. By 1388 this town of 3000 inhabitants had a flourishing economy with butchers, bakers, and candelstick makers (have you heard that before), actually also shoemakers, and other crafts, and much later, during the 30 years war, (1618 - 1648), the junction between the Sweds in the north and the troops from the south. As the centuries progressed, more and more was added to the town, firstly within the town walls, - the charming and uneven cobble-stone streets dating from the middle-ages and renaissance period are still in tact, although the "Fachwerk" (buildings with the wooden beams dividing stone and straw for the walls), cloisters and cathedrals, have undergone considerable changes. However, history is still evident here. The center of town, the market- place, is well preserved from the late 16th century, as are some other parts of the town, although much renovation and reconstruction is still to be done. Amidst the deterioration of the past six decades, you will have to follow my advice, and look carefully in order to appreciate this beauty and history.
Start with the "Alteburg," an old "Festung" (fortress) with its "Turm" (tower) high over the town,
an "Aussichtspunkt"
(look-out point) in order to gain some perspective of the town itself, the
old walls of the town, the major buildings and cathedrals, etc. Martin Luther
referred to Arnstadt from this view as a "Schüssel gesottener
Krebse garniert mit Petersilie" (a pot of boiling crabs garnished with
parsley). While there enjoying the view of Arnstadt, have a snack, and a
drink, - crabs are not recommended. 
(The "Alteburg" is not
too high, or difficult to climb, - I made it on a cold, February night years
ago.) While there you can take a leisurely walk in the vicinity, almost
in the Thüringen woods, and other over-views of the surrounding area.Although Bach was in Arnstadt only from 1703 until 1707, the Bach family had a long and influential tradition there. The town square has the a totally modern, most delightful and individualistic sculpture memorializing Johann Sebastian, possibly attempting to portray his youth and individuality during his sojurn in Arnstadt, or possibly showing him in a typical organist's position, pumping the pedals.
The first photo above shows a modern scuplture of the young Bach in a most unceremonious position; the second photo shows Bach's statue surrounded by kids in costume. This was taken during "Fasching" (Carnival as in Rio), and the total market-place was in a celebrating mode. No one really cared about Johann Sebastian at that particular moment other than a perch for the kids to get a better view of the festivities. In a corner of the market-place is also the "Bachkirche" (in 1333 it was named the "Bonifatiuskirche"), rebuilt, and renamed the "Neue Kirche" in 1676, and remained so as Bach found it. However, with the fame that Johann Sebastian has gained, it was eventually again renamed, that time to the "Bachkirche."
In 1707, Johann Sebastian himself, however, left for Mühlhausen, since he was by then totally "out of favor" with the officials of the town and the members of the church.
