Weimar, Germany  - The German city of Weimar commemorated its role Friday in the brief flowering of German democracy between the monarchy and the Nazis 90 years ago, with Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier saying the Weimar Republic deserved more respect.

German legislators met on February 6, 1919 in Weimar, a quiet provincial city far from the riots and violence of Berlin, to found a republic, replacing the monarchy which had lost the First World War.

Weimar, Germany  - The eastern German city of Weimar has become a popular destination for holidaymakers in recent years.

Many people associate Weimar with Germany's literary past and figures such as Goethe, Schiller and the poet Johann Gottfried Herder. Weimar is also the location of the extensive Anna Amalia Library which claims to be the home of German classical literature.

But Weimar also has plenty to offer less literary-minded travellers such as its connection to the Bauhaus design movement.

Weimar, Germany -  A lawyer of Italian descent unveiled Friday in the German city of Weimar what he said was fresh evidence that German literary great Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had been romantically linked to his dowager-duchess boss.

Ettore Ghibellino, 39, who was born in Germany but had his early schooling in Italy, presented passages from letters by another woman, Countess Caroline Goertz, which he said showed that Duchess Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar was in love with Goethe, 10 years her junior.

Ghibellino has upset established German literary scholars with the claim, first aired in a book he wrote in 2003. Goethe (1749-1832) is regarded as Germany's greatest poet and wrote about romantic love.