Thursday 25th May
20.30 – Casual cocktails to welcome to Weimar at the Havana Club Bar, Schloßgasse.
Friday 26th May
19.00 – Tim and Jill Ware invite you for dinner at Restaurant Apollon, Washingtonstraße 2. You can view the food options, and order what you would like here.
Saturday 27th May
15:00 – Ceremony at the Reithaus. Followed by a glass of Sekt.
16:00 – Time to explore Weimar and relax.
18:00 – Reception starts at the Reithaus.
19:00 – Buffet begins.
Sunday 28th May
12.00 – BBQ at ours – Windmühlenstraße 11B.
Gifts
As much as there are many things that we want in life, all we would like is for you to be able to attend. Because of this, we will not be requesting any gifts as your attendance is more than enough. If however you would like to contribute something towards our future plans a cash donation is always welcome.
About the venue
Like the City of Weimar, the Reithaus has a most eventful history. Reithaus, German for Riding House, is located at the top of the Ilm Park next to the world renowned (sometimes for unfortunate reasons) Anna Amalia Library as well as the Palace of Weimar.
It was constructed between 1715 and 1718 by Christian Richter in the Baroque style, and in 1803–1804 the architect Heinrich Gentz commissioned its conversion. It was at this time that the building received its classical façade, which can still be seen today.
From 1767 to 1768 the Starcksche Theatre Society performed Lessing’s Minna of Barnhelm in the building, and in 1790 it was graced by French street theatre (of course there would be a theatre link somewhere in there); the Frenchman Burdot offered curious onlookers a fireworks display in front of the Reithaus (firework budget is being calculated). During the 1806 Battle of Jena-Auerstedt (Prussia vs Napoleon, yes he got about a lot) it served to house captured Prussians and Saxons, before hosting the French equestrian acrobat Tourniaire with his artistic horsemanship and balancing act in 1821. A year later Tourniaire returned and brought wild animals with him: lions, leopards, gazelles and even polar bears.
Until 1845 the Reithaus was under baronial administration and later passed into the possession of the City. In 1855 it served as temporary accommodation for prisoners after a penitentiary burnt down. In 1920 it was converted again, making its future use as a riding hall impossible; the Bauhaus School had planned to develop the Reithaus into an exhibition space, but these plans were rejected. Finally, the Reithaus was turned into an administrative building for the Thuringian government, whereupon the Bauhaus School provided the plans and received two ground-floor rooms for its own purposes in return.
After the end of the Second World War an exhaustive renovation took place, and in 1947–1948 the Ministries for Health and Transport had their offices in the Reithaus. From 1951 the building was used as a children’s cultural centre (House of the Pioneers), but after 1989–1990 the building was able to be used for work with children and young people, thanks to a dedicated citizens’ initiative, and between 1991 and 1996 hosted a pupils’ recreation centre.
Since the 10th of July 1999 the Reithaus has been thoroughly restored and used as a workshop and event space for the Europäische Jugendbildungs & Begegnungstätte Weimar (European Youth Education Centre). It has been an integral part of the educational institute and is used for seminars as well as large meetings and conferences. The Reithaus is a historic listed building.
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