Experience the Open Monument Day: 65 treasures in the Ilm district!

Experience the Open Monument Day: 65 treasures in the Ilm district!

On September 15, 2025 it was that time again: the nationwide open monument day attracted many interested people to the Ilm district. Over 65 monuments opened their doors that day, providing insights into a fascinating history that often remains hidden. Arnstadt in particular was well represented with 15 monuments open, showing that the city is a real gem of historical sites. The motto of the day was: "Valuable: priceless or irreplaceable? What are our monuments worth to us?" This central question stimulated thought and made many visitors question and appreciate the meaning of the monuments.

The Ilm district is known for its numerous historical buildings, which are only open to the public once a year. Particularly impressive was the participation of two monuments that are not normally open to visitors and attracted many curious onlookers that day. These opportunities offer those interested not only the opportunity to immerse themselves in the architecture of bygone times, but also to discover the stories that lie behind these walls. These events are of interest not only to history lovers, but also to the entire population interested in preserving their cultural heritage.

Diverse program for everyone

As part of Monument Day, guided tours of churches, museums, private homes and technical facilities were on offer. The district administrator of the Ilm district, Petra Enders, summed it up: “It is the people and institutions that breathe life into the monuments.” In order to encourage even more people to share their love of the monuments, a photo competition was launched on the topic “Monuments in view – new perspectives”. Up to three photographs could be submitted in JPEG or PNG format, with a deadline of November 30, 2025. The winners will receive prize money of up to 150 euros and their works will be published in a brochure.

For the active visitors there were also guided hikes to the impressive Alteburg complex as well as bicycle tours of the ADFC Ilm-Kreis over approx. 60 kilometers. These activities not only offer a breather in nature, but also the opportunity to connect with like-minded people. All interested citizens can find out more about the events and register for the guided tours on the Ilm District website.

The look into the future

However, the open monument day is not only a unique opportunity, but also part of a larger context. When the program was presented on August 21, 2025 in the Bachhaus Arnstadt, it became clear that the preservation and care of monuments must continue to have a high priority in the future. The call for applications for the Ilm District Monument Prize 2025, with prize money of up to 1,000 euros for the best proposals by September 30, 2025, shows how important the preservation of cultural heritage is and how committed the region is in this area.

An informative brochure is published annually to mark the occasion and this year a total of 3,000 copies will be printed for Open Monument Day. For anyone who is looking for more information or would like to take part in the wide range of activities, we recommend the app from the German Foundation for Monument Protection. It offers an excellent overview of the nationwide events and additional information.

Overall, the open monument day in the Ilm district was a complete success, which once again showed how lively and diverse the region's cultural heritage is. Thanks go to everyone who helped make this day a special experience and we are already looking forward to next year!