Goethe-Laboratorium Jena

About the museum

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had the Inspector's House at the Botanical Garden rebuilt in 1825–26, because the earlier building, a simple farmyard, was no longer adequate. As chief overseer of the Weimar scientific and art institutions, he came to Jena regularly and used the house between 1817 and 1830 as a retreat. In total he spent more than 350 days there. He had the garden itself laid out in 1794 according to morphological principles.

The three-winged complex of plastered half-timbering around a courtyard was completed in 1827. In World War II, bombs destroyed part of the northeast wing in 1945; the reconstruction from 1947 to 1949 followed the old plans. As early as 1921, memorial rooms had been set up in the house, showing Goethe's living and working world and his exchanges with the Jena scholars.

Between 2014 and 2024 the building was extensively restored. Today the university shows a permanent exhibition here under the title "Bewegliche Ordnung" on Goethe's natural research. Rooms on geology and meteorology, anatomy and botany illustrate his methods of morphology and his theory of metamorphosis, with objects from university collections. The largest original is a restored elephant skull from the 17th century, which Goethe had drawn in 1784. Visitors can arrange things themselves and try things out, for example sorting herbarium sheets into a botanizing cabinet according to Linnaeus's system.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Bewegliche Ordnung" on Goethe's natural research
• "Goethe Elephant": restored elephant skull from the 17th century
• Rooms on geology, anatomy and botany
• Botanizing cabinet for sorting herbarium sheets yourself
• Historic Inspector's House from 1825–1827 next to the Botanical Garden

Permanent exhibition

• Bewegliche Ordnung. Goethes Naturforschung – The permanent exhibition has rooms on geology and meteorology, anatomy and botany. It shows how Goethe researched nature and what his morphology has to do with the University of Jena.

Operated by

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

Director

Helmut Hühn

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchairs and rollators can be used; additional folding stools are available on request. Assistance dogs are permitted.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Educational offers (guided tours, lectures, workshops) for school classes. In the exhibition, you can try things out yourself, for example sorting herbarium leaves according to Linnaeus. Children under 10 pay no admission.

Getting there & parking

Address: Fürstengraben 26. The entrance to the Goethe Laboratory is on Fürstengraben; access does not lead through the Botanical Garden.

Amenities & dining

• Lockers

Free lockers available; food and drinks are not permitted in the exhibition rooms.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit