The birthplace of Bauhaus architecture and Germany's first republic has elegant 18th-century buildings, the grand Marktplatz, and green spaces along the Ilm River.
Weimar, in eastern Germany's Thuringia state, shaped European culture through its famous residents and movements. You can sit at Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's writing desk, browse through medieval manuscripts in a gold-decorated library hall, and examine Marcel Breuer's first steel tube chair at the Bauhaus Museum. The city's UNESCO World Heritage sites include Goethe's garden house, the 18th-century City Palace, and the early Bauhaus art school building.
Inside Goethe and Schiller's Houses
Walk through Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's home of 50 years at the Goethe National Museum. You'll find his study exactly as he left it, with his writing desk and personal items intact. His art collection fills 26 rooms, and his private library holds over 5,000 volumes. Next door at Schiller's house, climb to the second-floor study where Friedrich Schiller wrote "Wilhelm Tell." Each room contains the writer's original furniture and everyday objects.
The Rococo Library and Its Collections
The Duchess Anna Amalia Library's main hall rises three stories high, with white and gold Rococo details throughout. You can see Martin Luther's personal Bible and early Shakespeare editions among its treasures. After a devastating fire in 2004, the library reopened with modern preservation systems protecting its one million books.
Bauhaus Architecture and Museum
Since 2019, the Bauhaus Museum has displayed the school's innovative designs through furniture, textiles, and photographs. The minimalist building uses concrete and glass to reflect Bauhaus design principles. Walk through Weimar to spot original 1920s Bauhaus buildings, including the main art school with its geometric corner windows and exposed steel frame.
Parks and Annual Events
Stroll through the 48-hectare Park an der Ilm, where paths lead along the river to the Roman House and Ducal Vault. Stop at Goethe's summer house, where he wrote many of his works. Each October, 500 vendors and more than 100,000 visitors gather for the Onion Market. Local farmers sell braided onion strings and regional specialties while live music plays throughout the three-day celebration.
Getting Around and Practical Information
Direct trains connect Weimar to Leipzig (2 hours) and Frankfurt (3 hours) every hour. You can walk across the historic center in about 15 minutes. Most museums open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00. Buy a Weimar Card for entry to multiple museums and unlimited public transport use. The tourist office at Markt 10 provides maps and audio guides.
