Bust of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Location: By Goethova stezka (Goethe's Path) in the southern part of Karlovy Vary
Year of creation: 1883
Author: Adolf von Donndorf
Date of unveiling: 1883
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1: You may reach Goethe's bust if you walk from the Hot Spring in the city centre upstream along the right bank of the Teplá River to Grandhotel Pupp where you will continue up Goethova stezka (Goethe's Path) all the way to the monument. This route, which offers a pleasant walk through the city centre, is approximately 900 metres long and it will take you about 15 minutes.

Route 2: If you decide for the second route, travel by Bus No. 2 or Bus No. 7 from the "Tržnice" (Market) stop to the "Richmond" stop by the Art Gallery. From there, walk about 500 metres up Goethe's Path to the bust.

History of the monument

The bust of the world-renowned German poet, writer and playwright, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, created by sculptor Adolf von Donndorf from Stuttgart in 1883 had originally stood in the former Pupp's Alley in front of Grandhotel Pupp. It was erected in honour of Goethe's thirteen visits to Karlovy Vary. The unveiling ceremony took place in 1833 and the ceremonial speech was presented by German writer and playwright Heinrich Laube.

After World War II, the monument was removed as a part of the national purification efforts. In 1952, the bust was reinstalled on a new pedestal on its present-day location by Goethe's Path not far from the Art Gallery. Regretfully, the architectonic harmony of the work was impaired by the destruction of the original Antique-style pedestal and the relocation of the monument to the constrained space of the embankment.