During a stay at an IBIS hotel in Erfurt I had a very special view from my room: The ruins of the Barfüsserkirche, a church named after an order of the Franciscan (‘Barfüsser‘), which had been destroyed in 1944.
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Tag: Thuringia
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Petersberg Citadel in Erfurt
The Petersberg Citadel is a well-preserved city-fortress in the centre of Erfurt. It was hardly destroyed in wars and escaped the demolition in the 19th century. A tour along the old guard’s path provides insights into the fortress architecture and panoramic views of the city’s sights.
These sculptures in Erfurt show two protagonists from the children’s show ‘Die Sendung mit der Maus‘ (The Show with the Mouse). Since 1971, this German TV series has been explaining complex facts in easy-to-understand terms. For entertaining the children, informative stories alternate with humourous clips.
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Kromsdorf Renaissance Palace
The excursion along the Ilm Valley Cycle Path (Ilmtal-Radweg) takes us to the garden of Kromsdorf Palace. At first, the Renaissance palace looks like many others. But his park is special. 64 stone busts adorn the garden wall. The exact assignment of the busts is controversial, which even increases the appeal of a walk.
Not far from the artificial ruins in Ilmpark stands a monument to the English writer William Shakespeare. The tribute of a British poet in Weimar surprises, but there are interesting links. Goethe is considered one of the main protagonists in the German Shakespeare reception in his time.
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Red Castle in Weimar
On the way from the Duchess Anna Amalia Library to the market, I pass a Renaissance portal with a strikingly large number of coats of arms. The windows have colourful lines like fresh make-up. The gate belongs to the Red Castle (Rote Schloss), which was built in the years 1574/76 as a widow’s residence for Duchess Dorothea Susanne.
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Tempelherrenhaus in Weimar
Many years ago, I came across an old ruin with a misleading name in the Ilmpark. The name Tempelherrenhaus (House of the Templars) made me think of a religious gathering place. In fact, it is a former café that was destroyed in World War II. The mysterious name derives from the once placed sculptures that represented the temple masters.
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Sunken Giant in Weimar
This sculpture named Versunkener Riese (Sunken Giant) was created by the German sculptor Walter Sachs. The art piece is located on the Frauenplan, a square known for the nearby Goethe National Museum.
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Municipal museum in Weimar
The municipal museum of Weimar is housed in the Bertuchhaus. This former residential and commercial building was built in the years 1780/1803 in classicistic style. Its name goes back to the then owner Friedrich Justin Bertuch, who worked as a writer and publisher.
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Villa Haar in Weimar
Promenaders reach Villa Haar via a long outside staircase that connects the building with the Ilmpark (Park an der Ilm). Trees provide shade during the ascent, revealing a neo-Renaissance style villa. The stairwell inside is not particularly large but enchanted by its lovely wall decoration.
The original mausoleum was built as a family grave for Chamberlain Christoph Jenichsen, in 1715. The name Kassengewölbe refers to the Landschaftskassendirektorium (provincial treasury), which became the owner of this place in 1742. Friedrich Schiller is one of the most famous persons who found their final resting place here.
The historic cemetery (Historische Friedhof) is part of the Classic Weimar World Heritage Site. Among many other personalities Johann Wolfgang von Goethe rests here in the Ducal Vault (Fürstengruft). Another notable burial ground of Weimar is the Jacobsfriedhof, which is considered the oldest cemetery of the town.