European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse The former Home of Friedrich von Schiller is one of Weimar s principal tourist attractions. Weimar s old spirit makes most of new opportunities by Stephen Kinzer the new York times ,. One Bookstore in the charming old town of Weimar Germany has a shelf devoted to works by local authors. Johann Wolfgang Goethe Friedrich von Schiller and Fri Dork h Nietzsche Are among them. Other lived or worked Here include Martin Luther Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Liszt i he spirit of Art and culture that pervades Weimar has been a source of local Pride for centuries. Officials now Hope it will save the town from the economic collapse that is threatening much of Eastern Germany. I. Quot Weimar does not need and does not want a heavy ,&Quot said the newly elected mayor Klaus Buettner. Quot we need new businesses Here but we Aren t inviting every Speculator from the West who wants to. Build a. Video game Center. Our real goal is to make Weimar one of Europe s cultural capitals and we. Consider it a. Very realistic More than 3 Weimar last year and figures for this year will probably show a considerable increase. Many of Tho visitors Are japanese a with a special interest in european classicism. Others Are s rhapsodic accounts of travels in a a Many towns in what used to be Hast Germany Weimar attractive downtown marked by Well scrubbed facades. Museums and monuments celebrate its humanistic a a. Homes that once Belt it Ngod to Goethe and Schiller separated by Only a few blocks Are the City s principal attractions. The enlightened ideals the two men shared. And their Devotion to what Schiller called Quot the spirit of Freedom Quot Are Weimar s history at gift shops Here sales clerks Are hooked m local lore. They can which enlightened Nobleman invited Goethe to live in Weimar Duke Karl August and How Many love letters the great Pool wrote. To i s mistress Charlotte von Stem 1,700. A a just beyond the Center of town music spills from the open windows at the Franz Liszt music school. A bit farther out is the first Home of the bauhaus school. , which was founded by Walter Gropius in. 1019. The building is now a school of architecture with an International student body. I he founding of the bauhaus was not the Only momentous event that took plate in Weimar in 1919. That year the German parliament met and proclaimed the Weimar Republic an ill laced Experiment in democracy that collapsed with the nazis Rise to Power m .193 3. A a. The town that produced much of Germany s richest. And most life affirming culture and which represents some of tin1 greatest achievements of the German. People also played a tragic role in the nazi Fra. On a Hillside 10 Miles outside of town is the Buchenwald. A Content ration Camp where >5,000 men women and. C Hildren died. Residents of Weimar speak openly about the Campana Iti Urist guides encourage people to visit Quot the memorial there. 1 he name Buchenwald however is. Rarely heard Here. People refer to the Camp simple As Quot u i it let in Quot Quot up there Quot. German brought some changes to the t Ull ural scene. A. A a a. The exhibitions at Buchenwald which gloss Over important aspects of the Camp s history revised and expanded a. Nietzsche s Home which was dosed to the Public for. 11 Etudes because East Gorman officials did not approve of his writings is now open. -.a. Anti the towering statue of Goethe anti Schiller that. Stands before the National theater is to undergo a four month cleaning perhaps the first since it was put up in 1837. A a. Go a a a a but to Many people who live in. Weimar the biggest change that unification has brought is the same one All of Eastern Germany is facing sudden economic dislocation unemployment and profound insecurity. Quot. A Quot a. /. Quot a. I l e Shock of such change has led some quiet frustration others to Petty crime and still others to Street attacks on Tor signers. But to some people in Weimar especially the Young German re unification has been Ai undreamed pm Blessing the sudden opening of vast new possibilities and an affirmation of the t ily s cultural spirit. A a a. Quot Quot my grandmother used to toil me no to think about. Abandoning East Germany because the Day would come when i a be tree to travel and do whatever i want Here Quot said gut run Poetke a 2 j year old student. Quot i never believed her but she turned out to in right Quot be careful crime is rising by the new York times one of the unpleasant Side effects of new social and political freedoms in Eastern Europe has been a Sharp Rise in Street crime. The death of repressive police controls combined with. Economic crisis and rising unemployment have. Contributed to a marked increase in purse snatching Pic pocketing car thefts and break ins. Foreign tourists tend to be targets As they Are perceived As being wealthy and local people you to be careful. Although Eastern european cities Are in general still quite Safe by the standards of major cities in the United states visitors Are advised to Lake the following precautions. A lock car doors and Don t leave anything valuable inside even in the trunk particularly at night. If possible Park in a garage or guarded parking area. A a be careful in train stations and in trains where gangs of pickpockets and purse snap hers often operate. Don t leave bags unattended. Also be careful at night in the subway. A a carry documents in a Pouch around your neck under your clothing. Leave valuables in the hotel Safe and Don t carry everything you own All together. 10 stripes Magazine May 16, 1991
