Palaces in and around Weimar

The highlights of Weimar's enormously rich historical landscape – the splendid palace in the town centre (a former royal residence with an outstanding collection of paintings) and no fewer than three summer residences: the sumptuous Belvedere Palace and the more restrained Tiefurt Palace and Ettersburg Palace – all offer visitors a very real sense of a bygone era.

Palaces

Belvedere Palace

Laid out in Duke Ernst August’s day in strict French style, in the late eighteenth century the gardens were transformed along the lines of the English landscape approach and many of the original buildings were demolished. Those which have been preserved are the cavaliers’ houses, the orangery along with the gardener’s house, and the inn. The palace contains an exquisite collection of arts and crafts, including precious porcelain, faïence, glasses and select furniture.

Palace

Tiefurt Palace

The building, built in 1765 as a tenant house on ducal property on the bank of the river ILM, served as Duke Carl August's younger brother's residence from 1776 on. Til 1806 it was the summer residence of Duchess Anna Amalia and a place for literary and social encounters.

Palace

Ettersburg Palace

The Ettersburg Palace complex consists of the old palace itself, the adjacent church, and the new palace in front, and was originally used as Anna Amalia’s summer residence. During this time, a literary and artistic circle met here, to which Wieland, Goethe or Herder belonged, among others.

Palace

Town Castle

The sumptuous rooms are just as impressive as the collection of first-class European art spanning the period from the Middle Ages and the Reformation to the beginning of the twentieth century. The building was once the seat of government and residence of dukes and grand dukes.