Goethe memorial Willemer-Gartenhaus

The Willemer-Gartenhaus is a classical three-story villa in Sachsenhausen with elegant rooms and period furniture from Goethe's era. Surrounding it are manicured gardens with winding paths, shaded trees, and planted areas that invite exploration.

A wealthy merchant purchased the estate in 1809 as a private country retreat outside the city. The renowned poet visited it in 1814 and there met a woman whose poetry would profoundly influence his work.

The house embodies the connection between Goethe and Marianne von Willemer, whose poems found their way into his literary works. Visitors can see the rooms where this creative partnership took shape.

The site is relatively easy to reach on foot from the Sachsenhausen waterfront, and guided tours help visitors understand the spatial layout and exhibition content. Visiting on a sunny day is ideal, as the gardens become particularly inviting.

Two ancient ginkgo trees stand at the rear of the garden and silently witness the decades that have passed at this place. The building itself was reconstructed from the ground up after its destruction in World War II, rather than simply restored.