BAYREUTH, or BAIREUTH, Bavaria, on the Red Main, 41 miles northeast of Nuremberg, capital city of the government district of Upper Franconia. The principal edifices are the old palace now occupied by public offices, the new palace, with garden and park open to the public; the opera house, a gymnasium, and the national theatre, con structed after the design of the composer Wag ner. Among the interesting private houses are the Villa Wahnfried, the former residence of Richard Wagner, who is buried in its grounds, and the house of Jean Paul Richter. In the Central Cemetery arc the graves of Jean Paul Richter and the composer Franz Liszt. Bai retail has numerous educational and charitable institutions. There are manufactures of cotton and woolen goods, sewing machines, leather, earthenware and agricultural and musical in struments. There are also breweries, distilleries and brick-kilns. This town is popularly known
as the mecca of the Wagnerites. In 1872, partly from funds collected from patrons and partly by the organization of the so-called Wagner societies, there was begun the erection of a theatre for the production of Wagner's works. It was opened in 1876 with a grand perform ance of his 'Ring of the Nibelungen,' and since then music lovers have been attracted to Bai reuth from all over the world. The theatre occupies a site on a hill overlooking the town and is reached by a broad avenue of shade trees. In connection with the theatre is a school for the training of voices to participate in the Wagner festivals. Baireuth fell to the Bur grave of Nuremberg in 1248, and after many vicissitudes was ceded to Bavaria in 1810. Pop. (1910) 34,547.