When Johann Wolfgang von Goethe arrived in Weimar in 1775, he already had pieces of “Faust” in his pocket. The subject occupied him all his life. In this work he incorporated the knowledge and issues of his time, crafted in poetry at the height of his literary talent. However, what relevance does “Faust” have for us today?

In our Theme Year 2025, Weimar will become a citywide “Faust” workshop. Starting on Walpurgis Night in 2025, you can look forward to numerous exhibitions, installations and events featuring Goethe’s masterpiece. Not only did Goethe devise and write the story of “Faust” at his world-famous residence on Frauenplan, but all of Weimar served as his “think tank”. Visitors today will be able to admire the impressive “Faust” collections at the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek, as well as the “Faust” manuscripts at the Goethe- und Schiller-Archiv.

At the centre of this “Faust” series is a literary exhibition based on the text itself where visitors can read, listen, look, touch and join in. All are invited to discover “Faust” in their own fashion – and the exhibition offers the tools to do so.

The plot, themes and language of “Faust” parts I and II are presented in a playful, concrete, vivid and understandable way. What do they mean by “the poodle’s core”, the “wisdom’s final fruit” or the “grey theory”? What exactly is the “Gretchen question”? And who ended up winning the bet between God and the Devil? Visitors are welcome to offer their own viewpoints on these matters.