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As one of over ten buildings, residences, and properties making up what is called “Classic Weimar”, the Duchess Anna Amalia Library (Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

To consolidate her love of books into a larger holding space, Duchess Anna Amalia commissioned in 1761 the State Architect to rebuild and convert the Renaissance-style French (Green) Castle into a library, which opened in 1766. Becoming one of the most important libraries in the country, the collections included some of the finest written and produced in German literature, art and culture, history, and architecture. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe himself was Library Director between 1797 and 1832.

The library has had its fair share of names: initially called the Ducal Library (Herzogliche Bibliothek); in 1815 renamed as the Grand Ducal Library (Großherzoglichen Bibliothek); in 1918 renamed as the Thuringia State Library (Thüringische Landesbibliothek); in 1969 renamed as the Central Library of German Classics (Zentralbibliothek der deutschen Klassik); and in 1991, renamed as Duchess Anna Amalia Library (Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek) in honour of the library’s founder.

An electrical short from aging damaged wiring sparked a fire on 2 September 2004; the fire held on for over two days before the final hotspot was put out. Over 100 thousand books were damaged or destroyed by fire, water, and smoke. The fire was the largest to strike a German library in post-war history. Subsequent donations and volunteers poured into Weimar from throughout Germany and Europe to help with rescue and preservation efforts. After conclusion of extensive restoration work to the building, the interior Rococo Hall, and to thousands of rescued books, the library was reopened on 24 October 2007, the birthday of the library’s namesake (Anna Amalia born 24 October 1739).

This is the place.

Everyone wears slippers (Pantoffeln) inside …

Entering the Rococo Hall.

Side passage, Rococo Hall.

Book collection, Rococo Hall | Büchersammlung, Rokokosaal.

“Raimann’s spezielle Pathologie und Therapie, 1831.”

Rococo Hall, away from entrance.

Goethe bust, Schiller quote.

Schiller bust, Goethe quote.

Rococo Hall, Duchess Anna Amalia Library | Rokokosaal, Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek.

Basic Info

The Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar is open Tuesdays to Sundays between 9am and 230pm and general admission is €8. Please check the website for updates; advance reservations may be recommended. The library is located in the compact inner town which is easily navigable on foot. With public transport, buses 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8 stop at Wielandplatz, minutes on foot from the Anna Amalia Library, the Goethe-Nationalmuseum, Schillers Wohnhaus, Markt, and Theaterplatz.

Students and researchers at the Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst (University of Applied Sciences and Arts) in Hildesheim continue to play an active and significant role in the conservation and restoration of library books, particularly after the Weimar fire.

•   Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek, mostly in German.
•   Thuringia State Tourism, in English.
•   Weimar Tourism, in English.

I’m very grateful to Weimar Tourism, Thüringen Tourismus, Germany National Tourism Board for access to places and activities in the city; and to Dorint Hotel am Goethepark for a comfortable and welcoming stay. I made the photos on 29 April 2015. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com as http://wp.me/p1BIdT-6Ni.