Friedenstein Festival: Discover the treasures of the Gotha Library!

Friedenstein Festival: Discover the treasures of the Gotha Library!

Castles and libraries – an interesting combination that is the focus of the beautiful Friedenstein Castle in Gotha. It will be particularly exciting next weekend, specifically on October 24th and 25th, 2025, when the research library opens its doors to the public. The reason for this special invitation is the “Libraries Day” celebrations, which include some remarkable guided tours.

The nationwide “Libraries Day” starts on Friday, October 24th. The intention of this day is to highlight the social importance of libraries and to promote public awareness. On this day, those interested have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour of the east tower of Friedenstein Castle. The tour is led by the renowned building historian Udo Hopf from Weimar and takes place at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The meeting point is the entrance to the research library on the first floor. To ensure that everyone finds space, registration is required up to two days before the event, by phone at 0361/737-5530 or by email at veranstaltungen.fb@uni-erfurt.de.

Special tours of historical exhibitions

Saturday, October 25th, is dedicated to the special tours of the anniversary exhibition “ADEL MACHT STATE. The Gotha Court Calendar 1763 to 1944”. This exhibition, which opened its doors on September 7th and runs until November 2nd, provides exciting insights into the development of one of the most important nobility manuals of the European nobility. Curated by Sven Ballenthin and Dr. Petra Weigel, there will be four guided tours at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The meeting point for participation is the entrance to the Hall of Mirrors on the second floor of the Ducal Staircase of Friedenstein Castle. This exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time through the history of the Gotha court calendar, which was not only of great importance for genealogical information, but is also presented as a German-French parallel edition.

As the organizers emphasize, the exhibition not only provides an insight into the royal world, but also contributes to documenting the development of libraries and knowledge culture. A diverse accompanying program with lectures and discussion groups is also offered to provide further information on these important topics.

A tried and tested contact point for those interested in culture

Friedenstein Castle is not only a picturesque place, but also an important cultural heritage site that hosts numerous events. The architectural historians and curators guide visitors through the history of the castle and its library with in-depth knowledge. These tours are a real treat for anyone interested in history, architecture and librarianship.

For all those who would like to prepare early: Registration for all tours is required up to two days before the respective events. So if you are curious and would like to find out more about the secrets of the library and the architectural history of Friedenstein Castle, you should not hesitate for long. Further information about the history of the library is also available on Wikipedia.

Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of knowledge and culture and come to Friedenstein Castle in Gotha on October 24th and 25th!

Whether you delve into the building and library history as part of “Library Day” or visit the special tours of the exhibition – everyone will find what they are looking for here!