Discover Weimar: Park, Classicism and Bauhaus

Weimar combines an expansive landscaped garden with the stories of Weimar Classicism and the ideas of the Bauhaus. In the 48-hectare Park on the Ilm, you can experience nature and culture in a garden on the edge of the Old Town. The city also has places where literary history comes to life through specific rooms and objects. So when choosing your holiday apartment, you might first consider which side of Weimar you would like to shape your stay: the park, literature or design.

The Park on the Ilm: landscaped garden and relaxation

The Park on the Ilm is a unique landscaped garden on the edge of Weimar’s Old Town. At 48 hectares, it is on a different scale from a small green space: the park itself is a defining feature of Weimar’s cityscape. To this day, it is a place for recreation, learning and enjoying nature’s beauty. It appeals not only to visitors interested in historic cultural sites, but also to anyone who values time in nature as an integral part of their trip. The park and the city’s history are distinct holiday themes, but both are closely connected with Weimar.

Goethe’s Garden House and Weimar Classicism

Goethe’s Garden House connects a specific place with several milestones in his work: in 1776, it became Goethe’s first private residence in Weimar. There, he wrote the ballad “The Erlking” and the poem “To the Moon.” The garden is also home to the “Stone of Good Fortune,” erected in 1777. Goethe and his drawing teacher, Adam Friedrich Oeser, designed it; it is considered one of Germany’s first non-figurative monuments.

The history of the house can also be explored through the objects on display inside. Visitors can see original furnishings, artworks, manuscripts and a selection of drawings from Goethe’s estate. Anyone who wants to discover literature not only through texts, but also through the rooms and objects in which it was created, will find a special perspective here. More broadly, the buildings and parks of Classical Weimar tell the story of the cultural flowering of Weimar Classicism. They also reflect the enlightened patronage of the dukes, which drew prominent German writers and thinkers such as Goethe, Schiller and Herder to Weimar in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Bauhaus and design on display

The Bauhaus Museum Weimar offers a different cultural perspective. It presents one of the country’s most important Bauhaus collections and the world’s oldest Bauhaus collection. The Klassik Stiftung Weimar collection now comprises 13,000 objects and documents. Outstanding exhibits include the Wagenfeld lamp, Marcel Breuer’s slatted chair and Marianne Brandt’s teapot. These examples show the collection’s breadth: a light fitting, a piece of furniture and a vessel each offer a different perspective on design.

Even before you go inside, a terrace invites you to pause: it leads from Weimarhallenpark into the museum. You can start your museum visit with a moment on the terrace before turning your attention to the collection. If you are weighing up literary history, the park and design while planning your trip, you can consider the Bauhaus Museum as a focus in its own right alongside the sites of Weimar Classicism.

Discover Schiller and Weimar on foot

Friedrich Schiller spent the last three years of his life and work in the house on the Esplanade. At Schiller’s House, you can see his original desk and bed. Visitors can also write with a quill and ink, create their own silhouette and experiment with colour. The site combines personal belongings with hands-on creative activities, making it different from a visit focused primarily on literary works or a collection.

For an overview of important sights, there is the Grand City Tour, a public walking tour along Weimar’s main sights. It offers one way to get to know the city on a guided tour. As you plan your holiday, you can consider whether you would rather devote your time to a single museum, the park or several cultural themes. When looking for a holiday apartment, your personal interests can help guide your choice without requiring every experience to follow the same format.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to include more destinations in your search, also discover Possendorf, Berlstedt, Bad Sulza, Tonndorf, Kranichfeld, Magdala, Bad Berka and Großheringen.

For the broader travel overview: Weimarer Land.