Former residence of the dukes of Weimar: the renovated east wing reopens in October 2026 with the permanent exhibition “Weimarer Klassik” (Weimar Classicism).
May 1, 2027 – March 19, 2028
The exhibition for the theme year “Weiblich Weimar” (Female Weimar) presents eleven women from the 18th to the early 20th century, including Anna Amalia and Maria Pavlovna, and explores the scope they had and their influence on the city’s cultural life.
The palace dates back to a moated castle that served the counts of Weimar as early as the 10th century. After fires, the Wettin dynasty rebuilt the complex as a stone castle in the 15th century; from 1535 a Renaissance palace was built under Konrad Krebs and Nikolaus Gromann, where Lucas Cranach the Elder ran his workshop for a time. After the fire of 1618, a new Baroque building followed to plans by Giovanni Bonalino; in the palace chapel, the “Himmelsburg” (Heavenly Castle), Johann Sebastian Bach served as court organist from 1708 to 1717.
A major fire destroyed the palace in 1774. From 1789 Duke Carl August had it rebuilt in the Neoclassical style with significant input from Goethe; those involved included Johann August Arens, Nikolaus Friedrich Thouret and Heinrich Gentz, whose staircase and banquet hall are among the period’s principal works. From 1835 Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna had the Poets’ Rooms set up in the west wing in honor of Goethe, Schiller, Herder and Wieland.
Since 1923 the palace has been used almost entirely as a museum; the Schlossmuseum showed paintings and decorative arts from the 16th to 19th centuries with a focus on Cranach. In 2018 it closed for a comprehensive renovation by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar. After eight years of construction, the east wing reopens on October 2, 2026 – with a new permanent exhibition on Weimar Classicism, a visitor center in the historic passageway at the Grünes Haus and an event hall. Renovation of the south, north and west wings is expected to continue until 2030.
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6University students (except distance learners), people with severe disabilities, Federal Volunteer Service and voluntary military service participants, apprentices, unemployed people, artCard holders |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 15 · Free admission up to the 16th birthday (except for special children’s events) and for school classes up to grade 10; school students aged 16 to 20 pay €3. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €6companion free · Reduced €6 with a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis); a medically recognized companion is admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | €6Reduced for university students (does not apply to distance learners). |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Groups of 10 or more must register at least 21 days in advance via the group form; max. 25 people per tour. Guided tours for adult groups plus admission: 30 min. €40, 60 min. €70, 90 min. €95, foreign-language surcharge €10. School classes up to grade 10 get free admission; tour prices for schools vary by grade level and museum. |
| Families | –No family ticket; children and young people under 16 get free admission. |
Free admission: Foundation-wide free admission days: International Women’s Day (March 8) and Buß- und Bettag/Day of Repentance and Prayer (November 18, 2026)
Tickets online (timed entry, bookable up to four months in advance) or at the museum ticket desks. MuseumsCard annual pass (12 months, all museums) €49, reduced €29, school students €19. Free admission with the weimar card (48 h €32.50, 96 h €59.50) and for refugees and ICOM/DMB members. On the opening weekend (October 2–5, 2026) admission is free, and guided tours cost €3. The foyer exhibition “Schlossgeschichte” (Palace History) is accessible without a ticket.
According to the foundation’s accessibility overview (as of July 2026), the area open from October 2026 is step-free, with an elevator and a wheelchair-accessible restroom; the Poets’ Rooms and the chapel can only be reached by stairs. The Stadtschloss page, however, describes the venue as not accessible across the board. Assistance dogs allowed. Advice: +49 3643 545400, barrierefrei@klassik-stiftung.de.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
From Weimar Hauptbahnhof, bus lines 1, 2, 5, 7 or 8 take you to the city center in a few minutes; from there, walk to Burgplatz.
Parking available
No dedicated parking listed. For Weimar in general, the Klassik Stiftung refers to the Weimarhalle and Weimar Atrium underground parking garages and the Hermann-Brill-Platz and August-Baudert-Platz parking lots; for coaches, to the parking lots at the Weimar Atrium.
New visitor center in the historic passageway at the Grünes Haus; new event hall in the “Schlossforum Weimar”.
The foundation rents out rooms and outdoor areas in the Stadtschloss according to its fee schedule (standard, reduced and commercial rates). The Schlossforum adds a new event hall for culture and encounters.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE) |
| Good to know | Guided tours including “Dichterwelten” (Poets’ Worlds) through the Poets’ Rooms and “Die wiedergewonnene Schlosskapelle” (The Restored Palace Chapel). Content on the Stadtschloss in the free Weimar+ app from October 2026; 360° virtual tour of the palace chapel online. |
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