Tourist Guide

Weimar is famous as the centre of classical literature in Germany. With such literary greats as Eckermann, Herder & Wieland living and working in the town, Weimar’s greatest period began in the 18th century when it became home to the likes of them and even more notably of Goethe and Schiller.

In the 19th century, it was the turn of Germany’s great composers with the likes of Bach and Liszt finding comfort in the city. While its Art School – birthplace of the Bauhaus movement – attracted many now famous painters and designers. In this time as well Weimar was home to the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche for the last years of his life.

It was also in Weimar’s National Theatre that the German National Assembly met after WWI and adopted the constitution of the Weimar Republic, and in 1920, the city became capital of the Land of Thuringia.

In 1998, UNESCO designated Classical Weimar a World Heritage Site. Today, the town remains one of Germany’s most important historic cities and consistently ranks among the country’s top tourism and cultural destinations. Popular cultural activities include attending an operatic or classical music performance put on by the city’s German National Theatre company.

With a population of around 65,000, Weimar’s size as a relatively small city enables tourists to see many of its sights that much more easily. Enjoy picking up a tourist map and wandering its fine old streets on foot. This is a fun and satisfying way to get about, as the majority of its top attractions and points of interest are relatively close together. This approach will also enable you to scout out the best cafés and restaurants, as well as the best shops and boutique stores, many of which can be found in and around the city’s old marketplace (Marktplatz).