Citizens' Campus: Johann Wolfgang Goethe's poem to Carl-August

When Goethe came to Ilmenau for the first time in May 1776, he wrote to Weimar "... but the region is wonderful, wonderful!".

The great poem "Ilmenau", written in September 1783 on the Duke's 26th birthday, describes this important time. The text is both a self-reflection of its author, which provides information about his attachment to the town and the surrounding landscape, but also a serious admonition to his brother to not waste his life, to face up to his responsibilities as ruling prince: to use his powers for the prosperity of his country and people. Goethe later found this text so important that he published it in his collection of works in 1817.

With his great poem, the poet uniquely dedicated a hymn to a city and its entire region in a way that no other city has.

The places where he sets the story are well known and his poetic composition gives them an everlasting sound.

Speaker Martin Strauch, deputy chairman of the Goethe Society Ilmenau-Stützerbach e.V., will present the poem with an emotional recitation, accompanied by music.

Admission: 5 Euro