Goethe and Napoleon met in Erfurt 

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's reception with the French Emperor Napoleon I. in the Imperial Palace Erfurt Oct. 2 1808. Napoleon concluded the conversation of almost one hour duration by the word which later became famous: "Vous ètes un homme!" bibliography: "Illustriertes Kreuzerblatt", 1. Jahrgang Augsburg 1828, Nr. 23 (*).

Goethe first came to Erfurt in 1765 as a sixteen year old boy. He subsequently paid 52 longer visits to Erfurt, during which he lived and worked in the "Geleitshaus" (Escort House). Through his close contact with the Governor of Mainz, he was permitted to meet Napoleon at the beginning of October 1808 in the Governor's palace (**).

(*) text and picture: Walter Blaha, Erfurt, Vom Bürgerhaus zum Kaiserpalst, Die Kurmainzische Statthalterei in Erfurt, 1992, Bayerische Vereinsbank, Abteilung Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Werbung, München, S. 54/55

(**) Travel is even better with Goethe, p. 31,  German National Tourist Board , 1999

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