Ettersburg Castle

Ever since Ettersburg Castle and its park grounds were built at the beginning of the 18th century, the estate was frequently used by the ducal family of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach as a hunting manor and favoured summer residence. Anna Amalia regularly invited her close circle of poets and artists to join her there. The spacious landscaped park with its cultivated grounds and so-called “Pückler-Schlag” is a jewel of garden landscaping.

Buchenwald (1937-1945) became a synonym for the crimes committed by the National Socialists. Until 1950, the Soviets used the grounds for a special camp; after 1958 the German Democratic Republic established the “Nationale Mahn- und Gedenkstätte” here. After 1990, the memorial was reorganized according to a new concept now also providing for commemoration of the fates of other victim groups. New exhibitions place the crimes in their historical contexts. The history of Weimar and Buchenwald provides a unique historical resonator for historical-political education work. This uniqueness lies in the proximity between the camp and Weimar as a cultural centre, and in the access thus offered to the past. Opening hours Museums 10 - 18 Uhr The outdoor facilities are accessible daily until sundown.