In Weimar’s valley of the river Ilm a park was created in the style of an English garden between 1778 and 1830. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was initially involved in its creation, but withdraw from its further development. ⠀
The Park on the Ilm is part of the World Heritage Site «Classical Weimar» and features some architectural treasures on its margins.
Already in 1776 duke Carl August had invited von Goethe to Weimar and gave the poet a country house with a garden in the valley as a gift, because he wanted him to stay. Another reason for the gift was, that for the polical functions he was proposed for, the citizenship and property of land were required. So on 21st of April 1776 the house and the property was handed over to J. W. von Goethe and repair work and equipment started soon after. ⠀
The interior was intended to be without ornaments and excuberance – simple and in beautiful forms. We will see this principle recur later in another building near the park. ⠀
Goethe lived in this country house until he moved into the city in 1872. ⠀
During his period in the house he created everlasting poetry like the poem «To the moon» which is also on display in the house, handwritten by the poet himself. Goethe also swam in the river Ilm by night in the moonlight – which was quite unusual in his times, even by day. The main rooms of the house are up to now not yet electrified and give quite a good impression how it was to live there. ⠀
The sculpture «Altar of Agathé Tyché» which is a bowl resting on a cube is said to be one of the first abstract sculptures in Germany. It combines of the stability of the cube with the unsteadiness of the globe. Tyché is the Greek goddess of destiny, agathé is Greek for good – so it’s a symbol for good fortune and therefore also called «Stone of the good luck». •
