Weimar Castle (Stadtschloss)

Weimar Castle (the Stadtschloss, also known as the Wilhelmsburg) was the residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the court that under Duchess Anna Amalia and Duke Carl August became the epicentre of German Classicism, patronising Goethe, Schiller, Herder, and Wieland. The original palace burned down in 1774 and was rebuilt in a restrained classical style with a long facade facing the Ilm river, completed in 1803. The palace now houses the Kunstsammlungen zu Weimar (Weimar Art Collections), featuring the Goethe and Schiller collections of portraits, manuscripts, and memorabilia, the lavishly furnished court rooms including the Falcon Hall and the Tapestry Room, and a notable collection of Cranach paintings from the Renaissance. Directly across the river lies the Park an der Ilm, a sprawling English-style landscape garden designed by Goethe himself, where his simple Garden House still stands and is open to visitors. Weimar is a UNESCO World Heritage city that can be reached by ICE from Erfurt (15 minutes) or Leipzig (45 minutes), and the castle is a short walk from the central market square. Combine the visit with the nearby Anna Amalia Library and the Goethe National Museum for a full day of cultural exploration.