Goethe's Ilmenau”: A hymn for Duke Carl August in the heart of Thuringia!

Goethe's Ilmenau”: A hymn for Duke Carl August in the heart of Thuringia!

The upcoming lecture on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem “Ilmenau” promises to be a highlight for those interested in literature and history. Organized by the Technical University of Ilmenau, the event will take place on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the Faraday Lecture Hall, Weimarer Straße 32. Entry is 5 euros. Speaker Martin Strauch, deputy chairman of the Goethe Society Ilmenau-Stützerbach e. V., will not only analyze the poem, but also recite it sensitively and accompany it musically. This presentation will illuminate the deeper meaning and historical context of Goethe's work.

The poem “Ilmenau” was presented by Goethe on September 3, 1783, on the occasion of Duke Carl-August of Saxe-Weimar’s 26th birthday. It not only describes the scenic beauty of the Ilmenau region in Thuringia, but also addresses the Duke's responsibility towards his population, which is emphatically emphasized by Goethe. In his hymn to Ilmenau, Goethe reflects on his own inner conflict and calls on his friend Carl-August to become aware of his royal duties.

The historical context

Goethe first got to know Ilmenau in May 1776 and was so impressed by the beauty of the surroundings that he said: "... the area is wonderful, wonderful!" This poetic affection culminates in the poem “Ilmenau,” part of Goethe's larger work published in 1817. It becomes clear that the poem is not only a personal homage to the city, but can also be understood as an admonition to the Duke. The text encourages Carl-August to act in the spirit of enlightenment and to take care of the interests of his subjects.

In a special episode about a hunting camp that Goethe experienced in 1783 in the Finsteren Loch in the Schortetal near Stützerbach, he describes his friends, including Karl Ludwig von Knebel and Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff. Knebel is characterized as a “marcky figure from an old line of heroes,” while Seckendorf stands out with his long limbs. The Duke himself appears as “darkly wild on bright days”. This hunting camp, a symbol of the joy and pleasure that Goethe experienced during his time with the young nobles, also marks the transition to a more serious perspective, which finds expression in the poem.

Invitation to participate

The upcoming event at TU Ilmenau will not only showcase the lyrical beauty of Goethe's “Ilmenau”, but also bring the cultural relevance of its message into the present. Through his heartwarming recitation and musical accompaniment, Martin Strauch will immerse listeners in Goethe's world while highlighting the region's enduring beauty and the challenges faced by its inhabitants.

The entire poem, whose poetic design makes the places in Ilmenau shine with an everlasting sound, invites those present to reflect on the connection between art, responsibility and nature. The lecture is therefore not only a literary event, but also a call to reflect and appreciate one's own role in society.

For further information about Goethe's poem and the lecture see tu-ilmenau.de, Wikipedia ) and Wikipedia ).