Weimar

From Erfurt (about which later more), it was only half an hour to Weimar. Here Kurt Hielscher published one photo from inside the Goethe Wohnhaus, one from Goethes Gartenhaus and another one from its interior, one from the Haus der Frau von Stein and one from the interior of the Castle, but the Castle was closed  for visitors due to reconstruction works. Instead we received a very nice experience visiting nearby Schloss Tiefurt of which later more. Till now I included the photos from Goethes Sterbezimmer in the Goethes Wohnhaus and his Gartenhaus but I added quite some more I made myself from characteristic places in the city centre, especially from Goethes Wohnhaus.

Marktplatz.

Frauenplan, one of the key squares in Weimar with the Goethebrunnen and some nice terraces. The Goethes Wohnhaus is also situated here.

Goethes Wohnhaus

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) became famous as scientist, playwright, novelist, philosopher, poet, naturalist and statesman. He came to Weimar in 1775 when he settled in what today is known as his Garten Haus (see below). In 1782, Goethe moved to the city center of Weimar due to growing professional and personal needs. The infix "von" was added in 1782 when he was ennobled. Since 1998 Goethes Wohnhaus has been put on the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with 11 other sites of Classical Weimar.

That morning of Saturday June 7th 2025, I was the first visitor and took my changes to try make some stunning shots. Goethes Wohnhaus truly is a feast for they eyes.

A wider view n Goethes Sterbezimmer.

Unfortunately, Goethes Sterbezimmer was no longer accessible from the studyroom from where Kurt Hielscher took his photo. Ofcourse, I asked if the gate could be opened so I could enter that room as well, but it wasn't possible to shut down the alarm instantly, not even by the manager. Then I tried to photograph the room with the bed, chair, and cabinet from the other side through the bars of the gate. It's striking how everything still looks exactly as it did over 100 years ago. Only the tapestry on the wall extends less far: only to the chair, but no longer all the way to the small table.

Goethes studyroom. If I remember well, it is from here towards the door to the left where one can find Goethes Sterbezimmer.

Juno room.

Checking out the gardens of Goethes Wohnhaus.

Goethe-Schiller Denkmal in front of the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar with a banner on the balcony:  Diplomatie! Jetzt! Frieden!". Goethe and Schiller are facing the Haus der Weimarer Republik, here on the Theaterplatz.

I really loved the Donndorfbrunnen where the Geleitstrasse and the Rittergasse meet.

Kim on her bicycle in front of the Rathaus, the City Town Hall on the Markt Platz.

Neptun Brunnen on the Marktplatz.

Fachwerckhaus at the Scherfgasse, Kim cycling in front of the Carl-August-Denkmal at the Platz der Demokratie and making a phone-call at Park an der Illm on our way to the Goethes Gartenhaus.

Stadtschloss Weimar at the edge of the city center and the Park an der Illm around sunset.

Goethe arrived in Weimar in 1775 and showed interest in a property on the eastern Ilm slope. In April 1776, he officially acquired the garden and house with financial help from Duke Carl August. He began renovating the garden and made the house habitable, adding a wooden balcony in 1777. A drawing by Georg Melchior Kraus from 1777 documents the garden's condition and the balcony. Goethe planted roses, grapevines, and honeysuckle around the house and shaped the garden as a utility space. Inspired by Wörlitz Park, he laid the foundation for redesigning the Ilm Park. Despite relocating to Goethes Wohnhaus in 1782, he continued to care for and visit the garden house regularly. His final visit to the garden house was on February 20, 1832.

Statue of Franz Liszt in the Park an der Illm

The Haus der Frau von Stein is the place where Charlotte von Stein (1742–1827) lived for 50 years, hence the name Haus der Frau von Stein. Charlotte von Stein was already an admirer of Goethe, who had become famous throughout Europe in 1774 with his novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers, a year earlier upon his arrival in Weimar. He found a kindred spirit in Charlotte on Stein and fell in love with her. From their first meeting, Goethe wrote letters and notes to von Stein almost daily, the tone of their correspondence becoming increasingly intimate. Von Stein was honored by the famous writer's attention but demanded restraint and self-control from him. She also feared that the close friendship would damage her reputation; she even temporarily denied him access to her home. Over the years nevertheless, a very close friendship developed. From 1779 to 1781, during the winter months, Goethe was even her direct neighbor. Goethe involved von Stein in all aspects of his life, let's just call it an affair, and discussed his work as an artist, civil servant, and natural scientist with her in detail.

On Kurt Hielscher's photo we only see a small part of the lengthy building: approximately 45 meters. I think it is a pity that due to tree half of Kurt Hielscher's view on the entrance of the building is blocked. It also made it harder to find the right spot to make the photo. When looking at the source, you can see that I should have made the photo from a lower position. There are some interesting differences to be seen on the building in between both photos like the new roofs.

From a different angle. The sun was already setting. It already was after 9.00 PM.

Little is known about the house during the 20th century. From summer to October 1921, the young Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) stayed in the boarding house set up in the building, having previously lived in a girls' boarding school. She had come to Weimar for private violin lessons with Robert Reitz (1884–1951), so Kurt Hielscher probably just missed her when he took his photo.
From 1996, the Goethe-Institut was housed here, which was moved to the riding hall in the park on the Ilm River in 2010. In October 2008, the city of Weimar sold the building to a Spanish investor. Due to slow renovations, this choice proved unfortunate. The building has been back in the city's possession only since earlier this year. An investor is being sought for its renovation.

Another view from a little more distance and the fountain.

A characteristic coblestone small street nearby the Haus Frau von Stein.

Below: Once more Goethes Gartenhaus.