Weimar – Park on the Ilm in autumn garb

The 48-hectare park on the Ilm is a stunner. Located on the edge of the old town of Weimar, it forms a green oasis from the city palace along the Ilm in a southerly direction. The design of the park in the style of an English landscape garden began in the second half of the 18th century. Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who had been given a little house with a garden by the duke in the middle of what would later become the park, played a major role in this. The Goethe Garden House is still one of the most popular sights in Weimar.

The park is not only perfect for joggers, Sunday walkers and cyclists (Thuringia’s most popular cycling route – the Ilmtal Cycle Path – runs through the park) but also for me and you. The gently winding paths lead the visitor through wooded areas with valuable trees, along spacious fields, past architectural jewels and over pretty bridges. Let your mind wander, breathe in the fresh air, enjoy nature – a walk in the park on the Ilm is soothing, enchanting, idyllic, romantic and by no means boring. The attentive visitor to Ilmpark will perhaps notice the discreet round plaques on the ground: “Lift your gaze and linger”, this draws attention to the deliberately placed lines of sight. I could have stayed here for days!

The park is one of the largest of its kind and is one of the best-preserved parks of Classicism and Romanticism. In 1998 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the ensemble “Classical Weimar”.

Until my visit to Weimar, I was not aware of how beautiful an autumn morning can be after a rainy night. But see for yourself:

Enchanting wafts of mist

Spectacle of colours in the sunlight

… and then, timidly, the sun asserted itself:

Note: My trip to Weimar was supported by Thuringia Tourism – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.