October | Nico Stemme, 11th Grade
From October 6 to 10, 2025, we, the 11th grade class, went on an exciting and instructive class trip to Weimar. The trip gave us many insights into history, culture, and literature and showed us why the city is such a significant place in German classicism.
Monday – Arrival and City Tour
On Monday morning we set off from Stein an der Traun. After a long drive and a short stop at McDonald’s, we arrived in Weimar in the afternoon. Right afterward, our first city tour began. We saw many well-known buildings and squares, including the town hall with its carillon made of Meissen porcelain, the house of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Red Castle, the Platz der Demokratie, the Templars’ House, and the Herder Church of St. Peter and Paul. Our city guide told us many interesting stories, for example that large festivals used to take place on today’s market square. After the tour we had free time and could enjoy a relaxed evening.
Tuesday – In Goethe’s Footsteps
The next morning there was a hearty breakfast with rolls, eggs, cheese, ham, muesli, yogurt, and fruit. Afterward we visited Goethe’s residence, where we could explore the various rooms with the help of audio guides. Goethe’s study, his library, and his stone collection were particularly impressive. The garden and the exhibition about his life also made a strong impression. At midday we had free time and could decide for ourselves where to eat. Some chose a sushi restaurant in the Nordvorstadt district. In the afternoon we visited Goethe’s garden house in the Park an der Ilm. There we got a good sense of how he had created places of retreat for work and reflection. A particular highlight of the day was the visit to the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. It ranks among the most beautiful historic libraries in Europe and impressed us with its Rococo Hall and fascinating history. Our guide also told us about the fire in 2004, in which many books were destroyed, though a large portion could be saved through restoration.
Wednesday – Literature, Bauhaus, and Theater
On Wednesday, Schiller’s residence was on the program. There we learned more about Schiller’s life, his family, and his influence on Goethe. It was particularly interesting that Schiller was considered a close friend and source of ideas for Goethe, serving as inspiration for his famous work Faust. Afterward we visited an exhibition on the theme of Faust, where we gained a closer insight into the creation and significance of the work. In the afternoon we continued on to the Bauhaus Museum Weimar. Our guide, who had already accompanied us the day before, explained the history of the Bauhaus movement and how art, craft, and design were brought together there. It was especially fascinating to see how modern and influential many of these ideas remain to this day. In the evening we attended a theater performance at the Theater im Gewölbe, located on today’s Stadtplatz – the very place we had already visited on Monday during the city tour. The play was performed by two actors and dealt with the relationship between Goethe and his wife. The performance was lively, humorous, and touching at the same time, forming a special conclusion to the day.
Thursday – History to Reflect On
On Thursday we visited the Buchenwald Memorial. This visit was very moving and gave us all much to reflect on. Buchenwald was a labor and concentration camp where many people suffered under horrific conditions. In the exhibition we saw personal belongings, photos, and documents that made the past tangible. In the afternoon we continued on to Erfurt, where we visited the impressive Erfurt Cathedral. Some of our classmates explained the structure and history of the building there. Afterward we had free time; some went out to eat, others visited the Thuringian Oktoberfest. Another highlight was the visit to the Old Synagogue in Erfurt, one of the oldest and best-preserved Jewish houses of worship in Europe. There we learned a great deal about Jewish life in Thuringia and saw historical objects, including parchment scrolls, coin treasures, and wedding rituals.
Friday – Farewell to Weimar
On Friday, it was sadly already time to say goodbye again. Our final program item was Belvedere Palace with its extensive park. The former ice cellar and the orangery garden were particularly interesting. After a short stop at a café, we set off on the return journey, which took about nine hours. Despite the long drive, we all agreed: the Weimar Trip 2026 was a wonderful experience. We learned a lot, saw a lot, and gathered many memories that will surely stay with us for a long time. Special thanks go to our teachers Ms. Gnad and Mr. Libold for this unforgettable experience, and of course to Ms. Paulig, who organized everything and made this wonderful trip possible.
