Upon this very spot stood a medieval moated fortress. That’s the beginning of the story of the Alte Burg in Weimar. Imagine a time long before the Renaissance. A time of stone walls and drawbridges. The castle we see today is a far cry from that initial structure.
The Alte Burg’s history stretches back to the 10th century. A far cry from its current state as a museum. A fire in 1424 significantly damaged the original castle. The Ernestine dynasty’s return to Weimar in the mid-16th century spurred a Renaissance redesign. It was then known as Hornstein Castle.
Another fire in 1618 levelled the castle once more. Rebuilding began under the skilled hand of Giovanni Bonalino. He created a four-wing complex. This was short lived. The Thirty Years’ War intervened. Duke Wilhelm IV commissioned Johann Moritz Richter the Elder. His work transformed the castle into the Wilhelmsburg a three-wing Baroque masterpiece. Its southern side was opened up to the elements.
Yet again disaster struck. A devastating fire in 1774 reduced the castle to its outer walls. Reconstruction began in 1789. This time under the direction of a commission headed by none other than Goethe himself. Johann August Arens Nikolaus Friedrich Thouret and Heinrich Gentz were the architects. They built a new ducal residence. They utilized the existing east and north wings.
The classical interior we see today dates from that era. The elegant staircase and impressive ballroom are highlights. Sculptor Friedrich Tieck added his artistic touch with sculptures and busts. Clemens Wenzeslaus Coudray designed the west wing. Completed in 1847 it features the Poets’ Rooms. The Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna created these memorial rooms. They honor Wieland Herder Schiller and Goethe. A final addition the south wing. Built between 1912 and 1914 it was the work of Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst. It enclosed the courtyard creating a secluded space within the bustling city.
The Alte Burg became a museum in 1923. It stands now a testament to centuries of history. It stands as a living museum in the heart of Weimar. Come step inside and explore its rich past.