Renaissance Castle Dornburg

The Renaissance castle, also known as Stohmann's Little Castle or Goethe Castle, is the southernmost and second oldest of the 3 Dornburg Castles. It was built in 1539 by Volrad von Watzdorf in place of a manor house built in the 14th century. The von Watzdorfs came into possession through inheritance from the Lords of Thüna and von Eberstein. Due to the owner von Watzdorf's over-indebtedness, the castle was sold in 1571 to Duke Johann Wilhelm of Saxe-Weimar. After his death in 1573, the castle passed as an inheritance to his son Duke Friedrich Wilhelm I of Saxe-Weimar. Around 1600, the castle came into the possession of the official locksmith Wolfgang Zetsching and remained in the possession of this family for 4 generations.

From 1605 to 1608, the building was expanded into a castle with additions. In 1715, the bailiff Arnold acquired the castle. Since the property was indebted, the castle passed to Duke Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in 1739. However, in 1755, the creditors forced the auction of the castle. Court Councillor Scheibe became the new owner of the Renaissance castle, which he bequeathed to his son. He sold the castle to Gottlob Ludwig Stohmann. After his death, Grand Duke Carl August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach acquired the manor of the former knight's estate in 1824 and had it converted and expanded into a residential castle. The English landscape garden, which still exists today, was created at this time.

After the death of Grand Duke Carl August, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe retired to Dornburg and lived in the Renaissance castle from July 7 to September 11, 1828. Here he wrote his Dornburg poems.

The Renaissance castle is now used as a museum and Goethe memorial.