Things to do in Seitenroda

The Zeiss Planetarium is one of the world’s oldest continuously operating planetariums, but it has state-of-the-art systems to rival the newest. First opened in 1926, the building is nestled in a quiet street near the botanic garden, which is worth visiting in its own right. Step inside the planetarium where the excitement happens.

Rising out of Jena’s Old Town, JenTower is a distinctive element of the city’s skyline. Go to the top for exceptional views. Affectionately known to locals as the Keksrolle (cookie roll), the building was conceived under the German Democratic Republic as a kind of urban crown that would bring Jena’s medieval sensibilities into the 20th century. The building was designed by Hermann Henselmann, one of the GDR’s most famous architects.

A must-see for art and architecture enthusiasts, the Bauhaus Museum is dedicated to the 20th-century art movement of the same name, which originated here in Weimar. Learn about the philosophy developed in the influential art school and the Nazi pressure that led to the school’s demise. See examples of paintings, drawings and objects created by Bauhaus followers.

Standing in a prominent position on Weimar’s central Theaterplatz, the Goethe-Schiller Monument pays homage to two of the greatest writers to ever live in the city: Johann Wolfgang Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. Pay tribute to the two literary greats, both of whom were leading figures in the Weimar Classicism movement.

The well-maintained Belvedere Castle is a grand chateau that together with several other notable buildings in the city, make up the UNESCO-listed Classical Weimar site. Explore the palace and admire the valuable collections of china, glass and artworks before strolling around the picturesque gardens.

Part of the UNESCO-listed Classical Weimar collection of sites, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library serves as a monument to 18th-century Weimar, when the city was a flourishing cultural hub. Admire the meticulously reconstructed Rococo-style hall and learn about the precious library collection, which includes early edition tomes from literary giants such as Goethe.