Weimar is lively
We are a small family, and it feels almost as if everyone knows everyone. With its 65,000 inhabitants, Weimar may be among the smaller cities—but this is precisely what makes it so charming. Concerning its quality of living and cultural landscape, the city of German Classicism is undoubtedly among the best. Goethe and Schiller, Bach and Liszt, the Cranachs and Gropius, and many other prominent personalities determine the town's identity even today.
Every year, the town's flair draws more than three million tourists to Weimar, which was Europe's 'capital of culture' in 1999. This is down not only to its typical, cobbled streets and charming alleyways: the historical architecture and the parks embedded in the townscape establish Weimar's wellbeing factor. Institutions rich in tradition, and a multitude of small cultural institutions form a unique, lively microcosm of culture. The night belongs to Weimar's roughly 5,000 students based at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar and the Bauhaus University, who gather in student clubs and bars such as the 'Kasseturm', the 'ACC' , or the 'Planbar' .
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Weimar's beat
From mainstream to independent – a tour of Weimar's cultural landscape is a definite must! Residencies, museums, historic buildings, and parks invite visitors to explore Classical Weimar (Klassik Stiftung Weimar). The concentration camp at Buchenwald on top of the Ettersberg, in contrast, shows the dark side of Weimar's fame. The Deutsche Nationaltheater / Staatskapelle Weimar present innumerable concerts, drama performances, and operas, while the Weimarhalle is home to the greats of classical music and pop.
Weimar also caters for cabaret aficionados (Theater im Gewölbe, SinnFlut Cabaret, Jugend- und Kulturzentrum 'mon ami', D.A.S youth theatre group at the Stellwerk, dance workshop Weimar, and many more). Current blockbusters can be seen on screen at the 'Cinestar', and art films are shown regularly at the 'mon ami' and the "Lichthaus". The schedules of Weimar's regular cultural offerings are expanded by numerous festivals throughout the year (Kunstfest Weimar, Weimar Master Classes, Yiddish Summer, backup_festival, and more).
Weimar's sound
Many world-famous musicians highly valued Weimar's special atmosphere, and created seminal masterworks here. Already celebrated across Europe as a piano virtuoso, Franz Liszt (who gives the school its name) settled in Weimar in 1848, and initially stayed here until 1861, supporting the music of his time as Hofkapellmeister (maestro di cappella). Thus he gave Wagner’s Tannhäuser and Lohengrin their premiere performances, and familiarised audiences with the works of Berlioz. From 1869 until his death, he repeatedly returned to Weimar during the summer months. For Liszt the composer, the time here was one of his most productive: he composed the sonata B minor, the two concertos for piano and orchestra, and also wrote his symphonic poems and the Missa solemnis.
The town's second great musician, Johann Sebastian Bach, had a similarly productive time here. Based at Weimar as court organist and violin soloist between 1708 and 1717, he wrote many of his famous organ works here (fugues, preludes, Weimar cantatas). Today, the Kunstfest Weimar and the Bach Biennale Weimar commemorate the two artists whose legacy spread out across the globe from the heart of Germany.
At home in Weimar
Whether you prefer living on your own or with others (in a 'WG') – it is not difficult to find a nice home in own of Weimar's new or historic houses. The Studierendenwerk Thüringen offers more than 1,000 places in its student accommodation. You can find a list of free flats and rooms on the notice boards at the LISZT University of Music or the Bauhaus University Weimar.
Weimar on the move
Diving, boxing, cycling, climbing, hiking, swimming, handball, canoeing, tennis, martial arts, ... Weimar's sporting landscape is as broad as its cultural palette. And the figures prove it:
- 1 stadium
- 24 sports halls
- 8 sports grounds
- 2 indoor pools
- 1 outdoor pool
- 1 boxing hall
- 1 judo and fencing hall
- 1 canoeing site
In cooperation with the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar each term offers its students courses to ensure their fitness, health, and wellbeing. To find out more about these courses, and to register, click here.