Parkhöhle
Underground tunnel system from Goethe’s time beneath the Park an der Ilm, now an underground museum on 200,000 years of geological, climate, and town history.
About the museum
At the end of the 18th century, Duke Carl August wanted to have his own brewery built. For this purpose, a tunnel about 500 meters long was dug between 1794 and 1796 beneath what is now the Park an der Ilm, intended for storing beer and draining the brewing water. The brewery never materialized; instead, sand, gravel, and travertine were quarried in the passages, creating an extensive, branching tunnel system. These layers also yielded fossils that the young Goethe gathered for his collection.
Between about 1810 and 1830, the court and park visitors occasionally used the passages as an underground promenade. Afterward the site was largely forgotten until, in the final months of World War II, part of it was converted into an air-raid shelter – this is where the museum rooms are today.
From 1992 to 1999, the partly buried and collapse-prone system was painstakingly stabilized; since 1997, the Parkhöhle has been open as an underground museum of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar. After the pandemic and a comprehensive renewal, the new permanent exhibition “Erlebnis Parkhöhle,” twelve meters below ground, presents the history of the tunnel and uses the geological window with fossils of a prehistoric lake to tell the story of climate change past and present. The site is a listed monument; the surrounding Park an der Ilm is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Classical Weimar.”
Highlights
- Tunnel system twelve meters underground, dating from 1794–1796
- Geological window with fossils of a prehistoric lake
- Converted World War II air-raid shelters
- Hourly guided walks through the tunnel
- Global earthquake monitor and sound stations on climate change
- Exit at the artificial rock arch “Nadelöhr” (eye of the needle) on the Ilm
Permanent exhibitions
- Erlebnis Parkhöhle – New permanent exhibition on the history of the tunnel from Goethe’s time to the air-raid shelter, with media stations on geology and climate as well as voices on historical and present-day climate change.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Klassik Stiftung Weimar
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5University students (except distance learners), people with severe disabilities, participants in the Federal Volunteer Service and voluntary military service, apprentices, unemployed people, artCard holders |
| Children & teens | €2free up to age 15 · Free admission until the 16th birthday; school students aged 16 to 20 pay €2. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5companion free · Reduced with a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis); one medically certified companion is admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Reduced for university students (not for distance learners). |
| Groups | –Groups of up to 10 people can book a guided walk in advance through visitor services. |
| Families | –No family ticket; children and teens under 16 are admitted free. |
| Guided walk through the tunnel (plus admission) | €1hourly on the hour, approx. 35 minutes, minimum 4 and maximum 10 people |
| MuseumsCard (annual pass, all Klassik Stiftung sites) | €49reduced €29, school students €19, partner card (2 people) €79 |
Free admission: Free admission days across all Klassik Stiftung sites: International Women’s Day (March 8) and Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Prayer, November 18, 2026)
Tickets at the on-site ticket desk; no timed-entry system. Free admission with the weimar card, for refugees, and for ICOM and DMB members.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the Klassik Stiftung, not accessible: the tunnel lies twelve meters underground and can only be reached by stairs. Sturdy shoes and long clothing are recommended.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 4+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
- Stroller-friendly: not available
A minimum age of 4 is recommended for the tunnel tours; hard hats are mandatory, including for children. Child carrier backpacks are not allowed, and access is via stairs. Children under 12 only when accompanied by adults.
Getting there & parking
No access by car in the Park an der Ilm. Entrance via a staircase near the Liszt-Haus.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The Park an der Ilm is freely accessible year-round.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
A lecture room in the Parkhöhle is available for events; inquiries via the Klassik Stiftung.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 35 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The tunnel is shown on hourly guided walks (on the hour, approx. 35 minutes, €1 extra, minimum 4 and maximum 10 people); tickets at the ticket desk, no advance booking needed. The Parkhöhle visitor rules must be observed. Entrance via a staircase near the Liszt-Haus, exit at the “Nadelöhr” on the Ilm. |
