The city of Weimar is located in the state of Thuringia, which is quite central in Germany. Although the city is in no way one of the largest cities in this state, it has an enormous amount to offer and is always worth a visit.
The reason is, because Weimar is a city that can look back on an incredibly rich and diverse history. This history includes some important chapters of contemporary German history. Especially during the Weimar Classicism at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, the city played an important role. This can be seen, among other things, in the fact that this “Golden Age” was named after the city itself. This period under the regency of Duchess Anna Amalia and her son Duke Carl August was characterized by Goethe, Schiller, Falk or Herders, among others. Artistic and cultural life flourished during this time in the city and in other regions of Germany.
The city experienced a further upswing in cultural terms in the 19th century. Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner and Arnold Böcklin contributed significantly to this cultural diversity.
A milestone in Weimar history occurred in 1919, the year in which the city’s German National Theater hosted the constituent assembly. As a result of the National Assembly, the years that followed were known as the “Weimar Republic” until 1933.
Tip 1: Schiller and Goethe House
When thinking about the city, the famous poets Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller are without question at the top of the list of highlights of the city. Among the sights are undoubtedly the residences of the two personalities. A visit to Goethe’s house at the Frauenplan as well as to Schiller’s former home is worthwhile. Today, both buildings also offer worthwhile museums where one can learn everything important and worth knowing about Schiller and Goethe.
In addition to these visits to the respective individual pasts of both poets, their joint monument is of course especially counted as one of the most popular and most frequently photographed sights of the city. The Goethe-Schiller monument is a bronze statue of the two poets which is located in front of the German National Theater.
Tip 2: Historic Centre
Anyone who spends time in this city is automatically always attracted to the old town, which offers not only a leisurely stroll through the city, but also a variety of destinations worth seeing. Thus, the sights alone of the market square with the town hall located there as well as the attractive Cranach House with its cheerful colors are worthwhile.
The western edge of Weimar’s old town is also adorned by the famous Weimar City Palace. It not only offers an enchanting sight, but also convinces inside with worth seeing destinations, not least of which is an exhibition that delights one with painting from the 16th to the 19th century.
Tip 3: Duchess Anna Amalia Library
In the immediate vicinity of this park on the River Ilm and east of the old town, you will come across a sight that should also not be missed when visiting Weimar. There, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library opens its doors to visitors and delights them with over a million books dating from the 9th century to the present day.
After a large fire in 2004, a great many works were damaged. After a comprehensive restoration, however, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library is once again available without restriction for an unforgettable visit. As the Rococo Hall, a very special highlight in this library, only allows 50 visitors, it is highly recommended to reserve an entrance ticket in advance or to show up at the ticket office already punctually at 9 am.
Tip 4: Bauhaus
The famous Bauhaus in Weimar, which was founded by Walter Gropius in 1919, always proves to be an artistically valuable destination. With the Bauhaus, Gropius created a form of architecture that became one of the most important in the 20th century and can still be seen today in various places in Weimar. A particularly important sight is the main building of the Bauhaus University, where about 4,000 people study today.
The structure was built by Henry van de Velde and impresses especially with the stunning staircase inside the building. Northwest of the old town, one also encounters the Weimarhallenpark, which houses the Bauhaus Museum, which opened in 2019 in honor of the Bauhaus Year. Other attractive traces of the architectural form can be found at the eastern edge of the park on the Ilm, the Haus am Horn, which is a model house from 1923 that reveals the Bauhaus ideas inside.
Tip 5: Park on the River Ilm
Another place for rest and relaxation is the Park on the River Ilm, also known as Ilmpark for short. The park is located east of the old town and with a width of 300 meters and a length of 1.6 kilometers offers enough space for beautiful walks and a welcome time out.
The park was planned, among other things, with the help of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who had a small garden house built there for himself, which can also be visited today and is one of the most important sights of the city. In addition, in the south of the park on the Ilm is also worth seeing the Roman House, which was also realized with ideas of Goethe, which he had brought back from one of his many trips to Italy.
