The Top 10 Things to See and Do in Weimar, Germany

The Castle Museum holds unending appeal for art lovers. This building with a neoclassical facade and stunning interiors is home to an admirable collection of art dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissanceperiod. The ensemble of Italian and Dutch paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries is also immensely popular among visitors. Additionally, the museum boasts an extensive collection of graphic art and coins.

Schiller’s Home is steeped in the memory of gifted German poet and playwright, Friedrich Schiller. Today, visitors come here to pay homage to the legend and explore the rooms that are impeccably maintained in an almost-original condition. A museum housed in the same building has preserved a great collection of materials pertaining to the life and creations of Schiller.

Home of the Dowager Duchess Anna Amalia, Wittumspalais used to buzz with literary activity in its time. Visitors are welcome to tour its fine rooms decorated with period furniture and portraits of luminaries belonging to the literary field. For devotees of Goethe, a special attraction is the Round Table Room, where he used to often spend time as a guest.

Wittumspalais | © Torsten Maue / Flickr

Fürstengruft Historischer Friedhof, Weimar’s most famous cemetery, is known for its pristine ambience, admirable architecture and as the eternal resting place of iconic personalities. Ducal Vault contains the tombs of Goethe, Schiller and Grand Duke Carl August. Grand Duchess Maria Pawlowna sleeps in the Russian Chapel in this cemetery. Various family members and friends of Goethe are also buried in this sombre spot.

The Goethe and Schiller Archive, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another monument dedicated to the memory of Weimar’s most famous sons. The archive contains a priceless collection of almost 600,000 papers and manuscripts by over 60 famous German authors and their autographs. A notable part of this collection is the works of genius philosopher, writer and intellectual Friedrich Nietzsche.

To see for yourself how the ordinary middle class lived their lives in Goethe’s time in Weimar, drop in at the Kirms-Krackow House. Though it is inconspicuous at first glance, this simple Baroque structure holds special charm in its little garden with flowerbeds, original furniture, courtyard and the arched entrance.