Goethebrunnen

The Goethebrunnen stands in the main path of Ilmenau cemetery in Thüringen. It was built in 1932 to mark the 100th anniversary of Goethe’s death. The artist Wilhelm Löber, a Bauhaus student, designed the fountain’s expressive relief. The inscription ‘Stirb und werde’ appears on the front of the basin. The relief shows three linked scenes in Porphyr stone, each part flowing into the next. The fountain is worth visiting because it links Goethe’s words with Bauhaus art. Löber’s relief was almost removed in 1933 by the Nazis. After repairs in 1995 it became a protected monument. It also marks the start of the Goethewanderweg to Stützerbach. The combination of Goethe’s theme and Bauhaus form makes this a rare memorial. Visitors find a stepped Porphyr basin with flowing water. Behind it rises a tall stone stele carrying the relief. The three scenes show death, mourning and new life. A wider, shallow pool sits to one side. The whole site uses local stone and sits quietly among the graves.