Kochberg Castle

Standing on a hill plateau with a beautiful view of East Thuringia, Castle Kochberg is situated in a 5-hectare country park near Rudolstadt. The castle was built in 1600 and underwent several conversions. Until 1946, it was owned by the von Stein family. Following lengthy restoration, the castle was re-opened as a museum in 1975. Four rooms displaying furniture and objets d'art formerly owned by Charlotte von Stein commemorate Goethe's many visits to his friend and confidante during his first Weimar decade. Seven more rooms provide information about Charlotte von Stein and her family, the connections of Goethe, Schiller and others with Kochberg and the history of the castle and the village. The castle complex includes a small amateur theatre which Charlotte's son Carl built between 1796 and 1799.