Frankfurt
GOETHE’S PLACE OF BIRTH
Johann Wolfgang Goethe was born in Frankfurt am Main on the very stroke of midday on 28th August 1749 and it was in Frankfurt that he spent his childhood and youth. He roamed the streets of the Old Town and saw the preparations and excitement prior to the election of kings and crowning of emperors, which were later to be incorporated into his works.

Fulda
GOETHE LOVED FULDA’S BAROQUE
Fulda was one of Goethe’s favourite stops on his way from Weimar to Frankfurt and back. Not only did he appreciate the Baroque townscape, still unchanged today, but also had many friends in Fulda. Follow in Goethe’s footsteps and enjoy Fulda’s hospitality.

Eisenach
GOETHE ENJOYED FREQUENT VISITS HERE
„The area is more than beautiful“ - Goethe wrote to Charlotte von Stein while at the Wartburg Castle in 1777. He was to visit Eisenach sixteen times. Alongside government business, writing and drawing, he was also interested in geological studies here.

Erfurt
THE MEDIEVAL TRADING CITY
Traces of Goethe’s manifold work are easy to find in Erfurt, as shown by several house plaques. He travelled here regularly, for both business and pleasure and heliked the city so much that he called it the „Thuringian Rome“.

Weimar
WHERE GOETHE LIVED AND WORKED
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe first came to Weimar as a guest at the beginning of November 1775. A year previously, Crown Prince Carl August had stopped in Frankfurt on the way from Weimar to Paris and invited the young author to visit the duchy on the River Ilm.

Jena
ALREADY A UNIVERSITY CITY IN GOETHE’S TIME
Goethe went to Jena for a change from the Weimar Court and found inner peace here for his literary work (works written here include „Faust“ and „Wilhelm Meister“). He took an interest in the development of the University of Jena. During the 5 years which Goethe spent in Jena, the Botanical Gardens, the Mineralogical Collection and the University Library were opened under his direction.

Leipzig
GOETHE’S DRAMA “FAUST” IN “AUERBACHS KELLER”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe studied in Leipzig from 1765 to 1768. He was very fond of the city and commented „I praise my Leipzig, it is a little Paris and educates its people.“ One scene in his famous drama “Faust” is set in Auerbachs Keller restaurant, where he was a frequent guest and gained inspiration.