WEIMAR. [GERMANY.] WEIMAR. listen to the free concerts given in the tures of any importance, but its literary cafés. and scientific establishments surpass those of places of much larger size and vastly greater commercial importance. It was formerly called the Athens of Germany; its groves alone certainly remind one of the academic groves of ancient Athens (there are no groves there now, nor any shade save that produced by stunted mildewed olivetrees). Leipzig has a large wool-market, which is held here in May; it also has extensive manufactures in silken fabrics, hosiery, leather, and oil-cloths, playing-cards, tobacco, gold and silver articles, snuff, chocolate, liquors, and musical instruments, with numerous printing, engraving, and woolspinning establishments. In the publishers' catalogue issued during the fair, there The sights to be seen are the Grand-ducal are often from 4000 to 5000 new books an- Palace, which is a handsome structure; it nounced. contains some fine modern frescoes, illusAn excursion might be made to the res-trating the works of Weimar's greatest idence of Baron Speck, five miles from the city. His gallery contains some very fine paintings; among them is a Madonna and Child by Murillo. There is a collection of pictures in the Stadliche Museum well worth seeing; also a museum of natural history and anatomy. Opposite this a new theatre has recently been erected. From Leipzig to Weimar, distance 53 miles. Fare, first class, 99 s. g.=$2 50, very dear; second class, $1 50. poets. In one of the rooms is kept the armor and one of the thumbs of the GrandDuke Bernard, one of the Protestant leaders in the "Thirty Years' War." His body is buried in the Stadtkirche. Adjacent to the palace is the Public Library, which contains busts of Göthe, Schiller, Herder, and Weiland, also numerous relics of Luther and others. The Stadtkirche contains a fine painting by Lucas Cranach: it represents the Crucifixion, and is considered one of his very best works. In front of the church stands a bronze statue of Herder, by Schiller. The interior of the church contains his remains. This On church was also the burial-place for the members of the ducal family. Göthe's house, in which he lived and died, is shown to the public every Friday. It is situated in the Göthe-platz, and remains just as he left it in 1832. Some of his furniture is preserved with religious care, especially a common deal table at which he wrote, which also belonged to Schiller, making it doubly valuable. About 20 miles from Leipzig we pass the town of Weissenfels, containing about 11,000 inhabitants. Napoleon slept here the night after the battle of Leipzig. the height above the town is the Castle, which was formerly the residence of the dukes of Weissenfels. It is rendered more famous from the fact that Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, was brought here from the battle of Lutzen, where he was killed in 1633, He was embalmed in a room in the castle, and his blood is still shown on the wall. His heart, which, it is said, weighed one pound and two ounces, was conveyed to Stockholm by his widowed queen. Weimar. This charming town is situated on the Ilm, in the midst of beautiful groves and handsome grounds; its population is 15,000. Principal hotels are Russischer Hof and H. Erbprinz. There are few things here to detain the traveler any length of time. It possesses, however, a great interest as the residence of some of the most distinguished literary men of Germany, drawn thither by the enlightened patronage of the grand-duke. Among the great names thus connected with it are those of Schiller, Göthe, Herder, and Wieland. Weimar has no trade or manufac Out of the town is the New Church-yard, which contains the present grand-ducal burial-vault. Here repose the bodies of the poets Göthe and Schiller. Here also lies the body of their friend and patron, the late grand-duke. It was his desire that the poets should lie on either side of him, but courtly etiquette forbade the proximity. This church-yard is a sweet place to visit on a bright summer's morning, the air made fragrant by the opening rose-buds, and all nature still with the exception of the musical warbling of the birds and the humming of the bees. Some of the monuments are perfect gems of art. Here may be seen an admirable arrangement to prevent the accident of premature burial in cases of suspended animation. In a dark chamber, lighted with a small lamp, the body lies in a coffin; in its fingers are placed strings, which communicate with an alarm-clock; the least pulsation of the corpse will ring the bell in an adjoining chamber, where a person is placed to watch, when medical attendance is at once supplied. There have been several cases where persons supposed to be dead were thus saved from premature interment. About twelve miles southeast of Wiemar is the town of Jena, famous as the scene of one of Napoleon's greatest victories over the Prussians in 1806. It possesses a celebrated University, which has numbered some of the most eminent men of the present and preceding centuries among its professors. GOTHA. the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is beautifully situated on the declivity of a hill, the summit of which is crowned by the palace of Freidenstein. It contains a pop. ulation of 19,000 inhabitants. Principal hotels are H. Der Mohr and Deutscher Hof. This capital has become familiar to American ears from the relationship existing between its reigning sovereign and England's mistress-the duke's younger brother, the late Prince Albert, having married Queen Victoria. Nature and art have made this city as fair a capital in miniature as can well be imagined. It is one of the best laid out and best built towns in Germany, and surrounded by handsome boulevards, which replace its ancient fortifications. The situation is beautiful, and the climate exceed From Weimar to Erfurt, distance 13 m. ingly healthy. The scenery around it is Fare, 26 s. g.; time, 40 minutes. Erfurt, finely situated on the Gera. Population 41,760. Hotels are H. Zum Kaiser and H. Silber. This is an old and well-built town, strongly fortified, and of considerable commercial importance. The principal edifice is the Cathedral, which dates from the 12th century. It possesses a famous bell, called Grosse Susanna, weighing 275 cwt. The church contains some pictures and very fine monuments. The painted glass is also very good. The leading object of interest, however, in the town is the orphan asylum, occupying the Augustine convent, of which Luther was a member. One of the apartments contains his Bible, portrait, and other relics. The two churches, Predigerkirche and Barfusserkirche, are well worth a visit. The University, established here in 1392, was abolished in 1816. It has now a Protestant and Roman Catholic school, gymnasia, a normal school, an academy of sciences, a museum, botanical gardens, and a public library of 20,000 volumes. It has extensive manufactories of woolen and cotton cloths, shoes, leather, and vinegar. From 1807 to 1813 it was occupied by the French; and in 1808 the memorable interview between Napoleon and Alexander, emperor of Russia, here took place. It was restored to Prussia in 1814. From Erfurt to Gotha, distance 16 m. Fare, first class, 32 s. g. ; time, 48 minutes. Gotha, which, conjointly with Coburg, is the residence of the sovereign prince of varied, pleasing, romantic, and interesting. Within, all the literary, religious, and scientific institutions, such as museums of natural history and the fine arts, Japanese and Chinese museum, picture-galleries, seven churches, a large number of charitable institutions, such as orphan and lunatic asylums, institutions for the improvement of neglected children, and others which distinguish larger cities, are to be met with, as well as all the amusements, and all the arrangements for convenience and comfort, and for cheapness of living, which are generally found only in firstclass cities. The palace of Friedenstein, which contains the picture-gallery and museums, is open to the public on Tuesday and Friday gratis, and on other days the fee is one thaler. In the picture-gallery there are several fine paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Eyck, Holbein, and Van der Helst. In the Kunstkammer are many valuable relics, among others the swords of Charlemagne and John Sobieski, a prayerbook of James I., and a ring of Mary Stuart. The library, Japanese and Chinese museums, and museums of natural history, are all in the same building. The collection of medals and coins is considered one of the first in Europe. The Almanach de Gotha is the title of a small book published here, which gives you the pedigree of all the crowned heads in Europe. Gotha has a large manufactory of porcelain, and does considerable trade in linen, woolen, and cotton fabrics. Among other branches of its trade is that of Gotha sausages, which are very fine, and are sent to all parts of Germany. It also does a large business in lacquered ware of all kinds. CASSEL. the head of his satanic majesty, hitting his imagination and the wall, making a greater impression on the latter than Satan did on the former. The hole in the wall is now shown to the traveler. In another part of the castle is the picture of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, formerly a resident of Wartburg, whose husband was as hard-hearted as she was kind and charitable to the poor. On one occasion, when she had her apron filled with food which she was about to bestow on the hungry, her husband caught her in the act, and, demanding what she had in her apron, she replied, "Flowers," when, thinking to detect her in a falsehood, he tore open her apron, when, lo and behold! the bread and cheese were transformed into roses and lilies. She stands in the picture as if trembling for fear they will change again. In another part of the castle are some beautiful suits of armor; conspicuous among these is that of the robber-knight Kunz, of Kaufungen, who was of gigantic stature. He was beheaded at Friedburg for kidnapping two young Saxon princes; also that of the Connétable de Bourbon, who was slain while taking Rome by assault; and those of the two Saxon princesses, Agnes and Kunegunde. From Eisenach to Cassel, distance 66 m. Fare, first class, 103 s. g. ; time, 4 h. 25 m. From Gotha to Eisenach, distance 19 m. Fare, first class, 35 s. g.; time, 45 minutes. Eisenach, the capital of Saxe-WeimarEisenach, situated at the confluence of the Nessa and Horsel, and contains 13,000 inhabitants. It was formerly one of the most flourishing manufacturing towns between Leipzig and Frankfort. Its hotels are H. Rautenkranz and H. Halbe Mond. It is the principal town in the Thuringian forest, and has been rendered famous from the fact of Martin Luther being detained a prisoner in its Castle of Wartburg, which is situated about 1 miles south of the town. On the 4th of March, 1521, as Luther was returning to his home from the Diet of Worms, where, in defiance of all threats and the Pope's excommunication, he had boldly proclaimed the Protestant religion, as he was entering the borders of the wood, his party was attacked by a body of armed knights and dispersed; he alone was made prisoner. He was conducted to the castle of Wartburg, where he discovered the whole affair was managed by the order of his friend the Elector of Saxony, who was present at the Diet when he left. Although the Emperor Charles V. had given Luther assurance of safe-conduct, a deerce for his arrest was instantly sent after him, and his sentence of death decided on. The Elector's band reached him before the warrant of arrest, and he was carried in secret to Wartburg, where he remained for ten months. He cultivated mustaches, and passed at the castle for a young nobleman, thus screened by the friendly Elector of Saxony until the first fury of the storm had passed. The chamber which Luther occupied in the castle contains his portrait and that of his father and mother. This room was the scene of his conflict with Satan. There is an absurd story told and believed that the Evil One appeared before him gnashing his teeth and threat-narrow and dirty streets; the latter conening him with vengeance, whereupon Luther, who had defeated his foes with pen and ink, thought he would try the ink alone on the devil and, seizing the inkstand, he hurled it with all his power at Cassel, the capital of the Electorate of Hesse-Cassel and residence of the Elector, is beautifully situated on both sides of the Fulda. It contains a population of about 41,587. Principal hotels are H. Konig von Preussen, Romischer Kaiser, and Russischer Hof. The first-named is a very fine house, situated in the Konig's Platz. In the middle of the Friedrich Platz, the largest square in any German town, stands a statue of the Elector Frederick, whose memory is universally detested by all freemen of the Western World. He it was who hired his bloodthirsty soldiers to the King of England to crush the rising growth of our young republic. Cassel is divided into the Old and New towns, the former of which, close to the river's banks, consists of tains the Elector's palace and many other tains a library of 80,000 volumes and a cabinet of curiosities. Among the latter are several antiquities from Herculaneum, busts of Napoleon and his son, the young King of Rome, by Canova, several very fine antique statues purchased from the Pope, among which are a Minerva and a bronze head of Mars. The antique bronze figure of Victory is the lion of the collection. There are also some fine agates, from 3 to 4 feet long, from the Marburg mines. The fee for a single person is 1 thaler, and 2 for a party. The picture-gallery in the Belvidere contains some very fine pictures. They are principally of the Dutch school, Rembrandt, Vandyke, and Teniers. There is a very fine cattle-piece by Paul Potter, and a portrait by Titian. The gallery is open to the public from 10 to 12 on Wednesdays; at other times the fee is 1 thaler. A little below the Friedrichs Platz, in the old town, is the Kattenburg, a large unfinished palace, begun upon the site of the old electoral palace destroyed by fire in 1811. Work on it was suspended on account of the death of the Elector who commenced it. It is now covered with-moss and weeds. Cassel has eight churches, seven Protestant and one Jewish. The principal is the church of St. Martin: it is the burialplace of the royal family. Its educational and charitable institutions are very numerous; among the latter is the Wilhelms Institut, where a large number of poor are not only provided for, but taught different trades In the Augarten, or public garden, is situated the Marble Bath, a very elaborate apartment, filled with statues and bas-reliefs, not of the most delicate character. Close to this is the orangery. Cassel possesses few manufactures, comparatively speaking: the principal are woolen, silk, and cotton fabrics, snuff, playing-cards, and chemical products. It has two fairs annually. A straight and handsome road, shaded by an avenue of limes three miles long, 376 FRIEDBURG leads to Wilhelmshöhe, the Versailles of Germany, and summer residence of the Elector. By no means quit Cassel without visiting this beautiful spot. The waters play every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. The highest fountain on the Continent is here; one stream, 12 inches in diameter, is thrown to the hight of 200 feet. This palace is regarded as one of the most magnificent residences in Europe. Apart from the immense amount spent on it, its natural beauties are hard to match. The palace lies at the bottom of the hill; it was occupied by Jerome Napoleon while King of Westphalia; close to it is the theatre he built, and where he used to act. The principal object of interest here is the colossal Hercules, and the Cascade of Karlsburg. The cascade is 900 feet long, leading up to the colossal statue, which stands on an octagon building 1300 feet above the river. The figure is of copper, and 30 feet high; eight persons can stand at one time in the hollow of the club the figure holds in his hand. The view from the statue is most delightful. The whole arrangement is said to have kept employed daily 2000 men for fourteen years, and to have cost over ten million dollars! although the exact amount was never known. The government, fearing the people, destroyed all record of the expense. From Cassel to Frankfort, distance 120 miles. Fare, first class, 9 florins 12 krs.= $3 80; time, 5 hours 15 minutes. Friedberg contains a population of about 3500. It is prettily situated on the top of a hill, surmounted by a fine old tower; there is nothing here to detain the traveler. Frankfort will be described on our return routes. See Index. We will now resume route 12, starting from Dresden. From Dresden to Prague, distance 116 miles. Fare, first class, 7 florins 40 kreutzers=$3 10; time, 6 hours. An express train twice a week makes the time in five hours, or the whole distance from Dresden to Vienna in 14 hours. |