Few towns as small or remote as Weimar have wielded such political or cultural influence. In the far east of Germany, 100 kilometres from the Czech border, it is best known as the place where the Weimar Republic, Germany’s post-First World War attempt at democratic government, was established - an achievement countered by the fact that it was also the first place to elect a Nazi council. But it has also been home to some of the most influential and enlightened German writers (Goethe, Schiller, Wieland), composers (Bach, Liszt, Richard Strauss) and artists (Cranach, Friedrich, Gropius, Kandinsky, Klee, Maholy-Nagy)
GETTING THERE
The nearest airport is Erfurt (the town is 15 minutes from Weimar by train), but there are no flights at weekends, and very few with connections to the UK. The easiest route is via Leipzig, but again there are no direct flights. Lufthansa (0345 737 747) flies from Heathrow via Munich, Düsseldorf or Frankfurt (from £143 return, including taxes). From Leipzig station (the world’s largest), it's an hour by train; tickets cost £11.20 each way. You can also get to Weimar by train from Frankfurt (2:50 hours) or Berlin (3:16 hours). For further details call German Rail on 0171 317 0919.
MUSEUMS
If you’re planning to visit a number of museums, it’s worth buying a Sammelkarte (about £9.30) from the Kasse by the Goethehaus. This is a booklet of tickets to most of them (but not the Bauhaus, Schloss or Neuesmuseum, the new modern art collection that opened on 1 January)
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