Friedenstein Palace is one of Thuringia’s most significant palace complexes in terms of art and cultural history. Following the founding of the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha in 1640, it was built between 1643 and 1656 under Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha, known as ‘the Pious’. The simple three-winged complex of Friedenstein Palace, visible from afar, has been repeatedly remodelled and refurnished. It houses works of interior art ranging from the Baroque to Historicism.
A sprawling park extends to the east, south and west of the palace. The two main areas of the grounds, the Orangery Garden and the English Garden, date back to the 18th century.
The palace is home to the Friedenstein Palace Foundation in Gotha, which comprises the Palace Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Historical Museum and the Ekhof Theatre, as well as the Gotha Research Library.
Castle Museum, Ekhof Theatre, Gotha Ducal Museum Closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
November to March: 10.00–16.00
April to October: 10.00–17.00
Closed on 24 December and 31 December
Listen to the Garden – An audio guide by children, for children
Children see things differently – including the Ducal Park in Gotha. Now you can learn about the garden from their perspective. As part of the ‘Listen to the Garden’ project, a group of pupils from the Arnoldischule Gotha are creating an audio guide for children. The Thuringian Castles and Gardens Foundation’s sponsors and project partners are the Sparkassen Cultural Foundation of Hesse-Thuringia and the Thuringian State Media Authority. The audio guide presents the plants – both large and small – as well as the stories and special features of the Ducal Park and the Ducal Orangery in a child-friendly way.
With the support of their partners, the pupils planned and carried out the production process. From choosing the topics and writing the text, through developing the concept, to recording the audio tracks and sound effects, the pupils took the lead and were in charge.
The ‘Hör mal’ project is a collaboration between museums in Thuringia, schools, the Sparkassen Cultural Foundation of Hesse-Thuringia and the Thuringian State Media Authority (TLM). In many towns and cities across Thuringia, children and young people are producing audio guides for children at a museum in their local area. The aim is to explore topics covered in class in greater depth and to consolidate the knowledge the pupils have acquired.
The school’s role as a place of learning is being expanded, and the museum is being established as a venue for imparting knowledge. This project serves to strengthen the pupils’ connection to their local community.
