Goethe on the steamer: Discover his Urschweiz trips!

Goethe on the steamer: Discover his Urschweiz trips!

Sasso San Gottardo, 6595 San Carlo, Schweiz - On May 24, 2025, the steamship "Schiller" opens a very special special exhibition that deals with the trips of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe through primeval Switzerland and around Lake Lucerne. Exactly 250 years ago, in 1775, Goethe visited this region for the first time, which inspired him. The exhibition, curated by Sophie Mauch, offers passengers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Goethe and understand his experiences. During the trip on the steamer, visitors have free access to the presentation, which is housed in the cabin.

Goethe, who never crossed the Alpine crossing, but only visited the primal Switzerland, collected stones during his travels and bought crystals. During his stays in Switzerland, which he also repeated in 1779 and 1797, he dealt intensively with the Tell saga and the customs of the Bergler, which also influenced his relationship with Friedrich Schiller. Schiller, who was never in Switzerland himself, was motivated by Goethe's impressions to write the drama "Wilhelm Tell", which was first listed in Weimar under Goethe's direction in 1804.

opening ceremony and program

The vernissage this day is made by Dr. Fritz Gantert opens and includes speeches by Georg Simmen and Martin Bütikofer. There will also be a theater performance with Michael Schwyter, which Goethe and his servant is Ludwig Geist. Maggie Pemberton piano melodies round off the opening ceremony. In addition, a museum day is planned on May 25, 2025, which includes short tours and inputs on topics such as Nature Writing, Sketching and Haiku.

permanent exhibition in the Museum Sasso San Gottardo

The exhibition is part of a comprehensive permanent exhibition in the Sasso San Gottardo Museum, which will be shown from June 1 to October 12, 2024. She addresses Goethe's three -time Gotthard trips and highlights aspects of geology, mineralogy and mining in this important region. In total, Goethe's rock and mineral collection comprises around 200 samples from the Gotthard area, which are presented in the exhibition.

In addition, an accompanying book entitled "Goethe am Gotthard" is published, which is available for CHF 19.50. In Stäfa, where Goethe stayed for a month in 1797, the reading company has set up a small library with works on Goethe, which is open to the public. A theme path entitled "With Goethe am Gotthard" will also open on August 24, 2024. The app-based route includes information boards at various points in the Gotthar region and invites you to follow Goethe's traces.

With this exhibition, an important contribution to memory of Goethe's trips in Switzerland is made. nau.ch and goethe-chweiz.ch Comprehensive information about the various events and exhibitions that are planned in this context.