On Goethe's Tracks
From his first visit, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Thuringia's famous writer, poet and lyricist, was deeply fascinated by the idyllic town of Ilmenau, the valley along the Gabelbach river up to the 861 meter high 'Kickelhahn' hillview. In the year of 1780, he took a time-out in one of his favourite spots, a hunting lodge in the woods, where he wrote on the walls: "Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh" ("over all mountain-tops lies peace") - Later known as his Wanderers Nachtlied.
So if you like to follow Goethe's footsteps, how about hiking along the 20 km long 'Goethe Trail' and discover his most important places of residence in Ilmenau and the surrounding areas. The first stop or start of the trail is the Ilmenau town hall, which also houses the GoetheStadtMuseum. The museum dedicates a permanent exhibition to the poet, naturalist and civil servant and his work. A Must See also is Goethe's former apartment - fitted with historic stucco ceiling, historic plank floor and a table piano.
So if you like to follow Goethe's footsteps, how about hiking along the 20 km long 'Goethe Trail' and discover his most important places of residence in Ilmenau and the surrounding areas. The first stop or start of the trail is the Ilmenau town hall, which also houses the GoetheStadtMuseum. The museum dedicates a permanent exhibition to the poet, naturalist and civil servant and his work. A Must See also is Goethe's former apartment - fitted with historic stucco ceiling, historic plank floor and a table piano.
GoetheStadtMuseum Ilmenau
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited and stayed in Ilmenau a total of 26 times. On about 180 square meters, the permanent exhibition shows a special side of his life, which had a lasting impact on his work: the activity as a Saxon-Weimarian civil servant and commissioner for the revival of copper and silver mining in Ilmenau. Therefore, he used the rooms on the second floor of the Ilmenau town hall (today's museum) as his official residence.
You can find more information here.
Hunting Lodge Museum "Jagdhaus Gabelbach"
The hunting lodge is a functional and simple, late baroque building, which was hastily built in the summer of 1783 to serve as a guest house for Duke Karl August and his hunting party. The museum provides an insight into the tradition of hunting as well as the social life of the Weimar court. The hunting lodge can be found along the Goethe Hiking Trail, at the gates of Hotel Gabelbach, a few kilometres before reaching the Kickelhahn.
find more information here.
Goethe Museum Stuetzerbach
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stayed in Stuetzerbach thirteen times from 1776 and lived in the "Gundelachschem Haus", now a museum. On display are Goethe's original living and working room, various writings on Goethe's geological studies, letters and drawings, and the so-called "Goethe Room".
find more information here.
