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Thomas Mann stayed here and was so taken with the hotel that he named a novel after it — Lotte in Weimar features the Elephant prominently. The hotel has occupied its position on the Marktplatz since 1696, which means it has witnessed Weimar's entire journey from Goethe's literary capital to Bauhaus birthplace to the dark chapter of Buchenwald nearby. Hitler frequently stayed and had the balcony redesigned so he could address crowds in the square below — a history the hotel now confronts rather than conceals. The Elephant is Germany's most literary hotel, and Weimar is Germany's most literary city, and the two are inseparable. 99 rooms.
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Weimar under National Socialism — The balcony built as a speaker's tribune
Lernort Weimar — The Weimarer Tafelrunden, and a landlord's friendship
Hotel-Legenden — The Stasi's listening room, and Suite 100 rededicated