The Site
The Classical Weimar ensemble, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998, comprises eleven properties in and around Weimar, Germany. These sites exemplify the city's profound cultural development during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period marked by outstanding contributions to German and European literature, philosophy, and the arts. Weimar became a nucleus for intellectuals and artists, creating an environment that greatly influenced European Enlightenment and Romantic movements.
Among the distinguished figures associated with Weimar is Christoph Martin Wieland (1733 – 1813), a seminal German poet, writer, and translator. Wieland is renowned for authoring the first coming-of-age novel, "Geschichte des Agathon", and the epic poem "Oberon". His works reflect the cosmopolitan ideals of the German Enlightenment, encapsulated in his assertion that "only a true cosmopolitan can be a good citizen" Wieland's tenure in Weimar included serving as a professor of philosophy and later as a tutor to the Weimar princes, embedding him deeply in the city's cultural and intellectual fabric.
An important site linked to Wieland is the Wieland Estate in Oßmannstedt, located in close vicinity to Weimar. This estate served as his residence from 1798 to 1803, and is emblematic of his contributions to Weimar's cultural heritage. The property includes a manor house and a landscape park, reflecting the aesthetic and intellectual sensibilities of the period. Today, the estate is owned by the Classical Weimar Foundation, which manages numerous historical sites associated with Weimar Classicism. The foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural legacy of Weimar, overseeing properties that collectively illustrate the regions historical significance.
The Classical Weimar Foundation plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of these sites, ensuring that the legacy of figures like Wieland, Goethe, and Schiller continues to inspire contemporary audiences. Through conservation efforts, educational programs such as the European Heritage Volunteers Programme, and cultural events, the foundation contributes to developing an appreciation for the rich wealth of Weimar's classical heritage. The inclusion of the Wieland Estate within the foundation's overseen properties is an example of the interconnectedness of these historical figures and sites, offering a comprehensive understanding of Weimar's role in shaping European cultural and intellectual history.
The Project
The 2025 edition of the European Heritage Volunteers Project at Classical Weimar builds upon a longstanding engagement with the conservation and reconstruction of historic parks and gardens within this UNESCO World Heritage site. Since 2012, efforts have focused on conservation and maintenance works on important elements of the Classical Weimar´s historical gardens, particularly in the last five years focused on the historic kitchen garden of Belvedere Park, through dry-stone wall conservation, pathway reconstruction, and structural maintenance. This year, the project extends its scope and focus to the Wieland Estate in Oßmannstedt, enhancing the narrative of Weimar’s cultural heritage through practical conservation and interdisciplinary educational activities.
The hands-on work will focus on the conservation of a historic dry-stone wall that serves as both a containment structure and a boundary between the estate’s gardens and the Ilm River, which also runs through the parks of Classical Weimar. This intervention is critical to ensuring the stability of the riverside embankment while preserving the estate’s historical authenticity. In addition, the participants will also collaborate with other tasks related to the upkeep of the historical parks and gardens at the estate.
The works will be carried out under the instruction and guidance of an expert stonemason with decades of experience in traditional masonry techniques and who has been leading for several years projects within the European Heritage Volunteers Programme as Technical Instructor.
An integral component of the project is the philosophical approach to slow work in craftsmanship, emphasising the careful and deliberate application of traditional masonry and construction techniques. This method aligns with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, advocating for the sustainable use and reuse of materials and the integration of historical construction techniques into modern architectural practice. By rediscovering these time-tested approaches, the project seeks to contribute to discussions on ecological sustainability and resilience in heritage conservation, addressing contemporary environmental challenges through historical methodologies.
The participants will be lodged at the historic city centre of Weimar, where most activities of educational programme will also take place. The educational programme will provide an exploration of conservation and resilience strategies for historic parks and gardens, particularly in the context of climate change. The participants will attend guided visits to Classical Weimar’s parks and gardens as well as other historical parks and gardens in the region, examining the relationship between park and garden design, cultural heritage, and environmental sustainability. Specialists from the Classical Weimar Foundation will lead discussions on heritage site management, offering insights into the challenges and strategies for preserving historic parks and gardens in times of climate change.
An essential element of the educational programme will be the participants' presentations, where participants will prepare and deliver presentations on heritage conservation efforts in their home countries, focusing on climate change resilience strategies at historic parks and gardens. This part of the programme is oriented towards facilitating professional dialogue on aspects of parks and garden heritage and sustainability as well as intercultural exchange among participants.
The project will take place from August 31st to September 13th, 2025, and is jointly organised by European Heritage Volunteers and the Classical Weimar Foundation.
The project is part of the World Heritage Volunteers campaign for 2025, a worldwide initiative taking place yearly within the framework of the World Heritage Education Programme at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
