Goethe's Garden House

A charming cottage set in the Park an der Ilm, this Gartenhaus (garden house) was Goethe's first residence in Weimar. Given to him by the Duke in 1776, the simple two-story house and its surrounding garden became Goethe's retreat for writing and scientific studies. Here he penned early works like the poem "To the Moon" and the ballad "Erlkönig". The house is modest – white plaster with green shutters – but its interior, restored to late 18th-century appearance, is imbued with Goethe's presence. Visitors can see his small study with the desk and chair he used, a sleeping alcove, and a kitchen, all furnished sparsely. Goethe actively gardened here, growing vegetables, fruits, and the famous Ginkgo tree that inspired his poetry. Overlooking the Ilm, the site emanates tranquility. After Goethe moved to the main house in town in 1782, he still frequented the Gartenhaus for inspiration. It opened as a memorial museum in the late 19th century. Today, the Garden House – part of the Classical Weimar UNESCO site – appears much as it did in Goethe's day. The guided visit conveys an intimate portrait of Goethe's early years in Weimar and his harmonious ideal of living close to nature.