Goethe–Schiller Monument

This bronze double statue on Theaterplatz is Weimar's most iconic monument, depicting Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller – the two literary giants of Weimar Classicism – standing side by side. Unveiled in 1857 and sculpted by Ernst Rietschel, the Goethe–Schiller Monument symbolizes the friendship and shared humanist ideals of the poets. The larger-than-life figures, cast in bronze, show Goethe holding a laurel wreath and Schiller a scroll, gazing forward as if contemplating the future of German art and thought. Set on a granite pedestal in front of the German National Theater, the monument quickly became a national shrine. During the Weimar Republic, the assembly delegates paid tribute here in 1919, and the statue later survived WWII with minimal damage. Today the Goethe–Schiller Monument remains a popular gathering point and photo spot, embodying Weimar's identity as the "city of poets and thinkers." It is especially striking when floodlit at night or framed by seasonal flowers, serving as a proud emblem of Weimar's cultural legacy.