44905NOR
Weimar Facts and Free Time
Weimar morning sightseeing with TM
Erfurt afternoon excursion, short sightseeing with TM
· You need cash or ACIS card for entrances to Goethe’s House and Widow’s Palace
Your walking tour of Weimar should include the Theaterplatz (Deutsches Nationaltheater and Goethe and Schiller statues), the Markt (Lucas Cranach House and Town Hall), the Stadtkirche and the Stadtschloss as well as inside visits of the Widow’s Palace and Goethe’s House. If you don’t have a written reservation for these visits in your TM envelope call several days in advance to arrange one. Without one you may not be able to visit these monuments as a group. In this case tell the group to visit them in their free time. You reimburse them. Group should have lunch in Weimar.
Weimar – Erfurt 22 km 30 mins
14.00 Depart from Weimar. (It should be possible for your bus to pick you
up from the city centre, provided the group is punctual.) Take the
B7 to Erfurt.
14.30 Arrive in Erfurt. Ask the driver to set down in Domplatz and arrange a
pick up time if they are unable to park there. Lead the group up the
Domstufen for visits to the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral (Dom) and
the early Gothic St. Severin’s church which includes the sarcophagus
of the patron! Take them back down to Domplatz, cross the square
and take Marktstrasse past the town hall (Rathaus) then turn left and
immediately right to get onto the fourteenth-century Krämerbruecke
– reputed to be the only bridge in continental Europe North of the
Alps lined with buildings (timber-framed shops, in this case) in the
medieval fashion. You can then take them back to the Marktstrasse
and give them free time to explore the streets of the old town.
Arrange a meeting time back in Domplatz.
16.45 Leave Erfurt, take the B7 back to Weimar.
17.15 Arrive in Weimar.
WEIMAR FACTS AND FREE TIME
THINGS TO DO
Museums
Most museums are closed on Monday, except Schiller’s House closed Tuesday.
Stadtschloss Museum
Impressive painting gallery including some famous Cranachs.
Goethe’s House
Goethe lived here for the last 20 years of his life.
Schiller’s House
After Goethe’s House, Weimar’s second site of pilgrimage. William Tell was written here.
Liszt’s House
Franz Liszt lived here from 1869-1886. Open April – October.
Duchess Anna Amalia Library
The small but magnificent Rococo library made international headlines in 2004 when it caught fire. It’s very difficult to visit with groups, and only 70 tickets a day are released to individuals. If anyone is interested, they can try the ticket booth from 9am daily. They might be lucky out of season.
WALKS
The Ilm Park and Goethe’s Pavilion. Cross the bridge behind the castle and walk upstream along the Ilm towards Goethe’s pavilion (Gartenhaus). This retreat was given to Goethe by Augustus the Strong. Facing the pavilion is Augustus’s own retreat, the Borkenhäuschen.
The Alte Friedhof (Cemetery) with an impressive funerary monument to Goethe and Schiller (erected 1827).
EVENING ACTIVITIES
Weimar is not the liveliest town in the evening but…
If you have serious Germanic culture vultures then they might try to get tickets for a performance at the German National Theatre. Tickets from the box office and the Tourist Office. Call a few days in advance if possible.
There are several good cafes and bars in the centre some of which may have music. It’s best to check the local listings and ask at your hotel.