You only see what you know (Goethe)
The Van de Velde Building was designed by Henry van de Velde for the Grand Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts. Today it houses the Faculty of Art and Design of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. At the central staircase you can see a restored mural, originally made by Oskar Schlemmer.
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. [German]
This showcase in the Romantikerhaus in Jena recalls that Johann Wolfgang von Goethe also worked as a scientist. So he dealt with the incisive bone. Contrary to his assumption, he was not the discoverer of this bone. [German]
The quotes on the house walls of Weimar are a challenge for attentive walks. They inspire not only to look at gable ends but also to reflect. This quote from Jules Renard made me pensive: “If you know life, please give me its address” (Wenn Sie das Leben kennen, geben Sie mir doch bitte seine Anschrift). What exactly makes us think we know life? [German]
The Goethe garden house is a building in the Ilmpark of Weimar. It was Goethe’s home and workplace until he moved to the Frauenplan in June 1782. Here he wrote the famous ballad of the Erlkönig and the poem To the Moon. [German]
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.
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. [German]
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. [German]
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. [German]
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. [German]
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. [German]
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. [German]