Jena, University city in Thuringia, Germany
Description
Jena is a university city in Thuringia that stretches along the Saale valley between forested hills and limestone cliffs. The old town sits on the western riverbank, while newer residential areas and research facilities climb the gentle slopes on both sides of the valley.
History
The university opened in 1558 and drew thinkers like Goethe, Fichte, and Hegel over the centuries. In the 1800s, the collaboration between Carl Zeiss and Ernst Abbe transformed the town into a center for optical industry and precision instrument making.
Culture
Students shape the cityscape by gathering in cafes, along the river, and in small parks scattered throughout the center. During the academic year, the streets fill with bicycles, and conversation in several languages drifts from courtyards and benches where groups meet between lectures.
Practical
The main train station sits south of the center and offers regular connections to Weimar, Erfurt, Leipzig, and beyond. The old town is walkable, while buses and trams link the outer districts and university campuses.
Did you know?
The Zeiss Planetarium from 1926 stands as the oldest working projection planetarium in the world. The limestone caves above town, called the Devil's Holes, once served as hideouts and wine cellars.
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JenTower
250 m
Planetarium Jena
411 m
Zeiss Building 15
374 m
St. Michael
99 m
Fuchsturm
2.4 km
Erlkönig
2.4 km
Botanical Garden
367 m
Jenzig
3 km
Phyletic Museum
537 m
Jena West station
878 m
Hausberg
2.5 km
Normannenhaus
671 m
Volkspark Oberaue
677 m
Schiller's garden house
419 m
Kunitzburg
5.6 km
Zeiss Bau 36
501 m
Hanfried
10 m
Grüne Tanne
631 m
Zeiss Bau 59
335 m
Jena Saalbahnhof
1 km
Roter Turm
186 m
Johannisberg
3.5 km
Leutratal und Cospoth
7 km
Sparkassen-Arena, Jena
3.1 km
Schloss Thalstein
2.7 km
Haus Auerbach
1.1 km
Deutsches Optisches Museum
608 m
Bismarckturm Jena
2 km
Ammerbach
Burgau
Closewitz
Cospeda
Drackendorf
Göschwitz
Ilmnitz
Isserstedt
Jena-Nord
Jena-Süd
Jena-West
Jena-Zentrum
Jenaprießnitz/Wogau
Kernberge
Krippendorf
Kunitz/Laasan
Leutra
Lichtenhain
Lobeda
Löbstedt
Lützeroda
Maua
Münchenroda/Remderoda
Neulobeda
Vierzehnheiligen
Wenigenjena
Winzerla
Wöllnitz
Ziegenhain
Zwätzen
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