Ilmenau

Ilmenau is a college town in the Ilm-Kreis district of Thuringia, sitting at the northern edge of the Thuringian Forest at roughly 500 meters (1,640 feet) elevation in the Ilm valley. The town lies about 33 kilometers (21 miles) south of Erfurt and still maintains its industrial tradition through the production of glass instruments for laboratories.

Mining for silver, copper, and manganese shaped the early settlement until the deposits ran out and the mines closed. Afterward, the town turned into a spa resort by 1838 and later grew into a center for technology and education.

The technical university, founded in 1894, brings nearly 5,000 students to the area, most of them studying engineering or media. This academic life gives the streets a youthful feel, especially around cafés and meeting spots.

The train station links the town to larger centers and makes arrival easy without a car. Around the campus you will find shops and eateries that cater mostly to younger visitors.

A hen and a goat serve as the local heraldic animals and appear regularly in town symbols. Goethe visited several times in the early 19th century and left literary traces in the region.

Location: Ilm-Kreis

Elevation above the sea: 500 m

Shares border with: Neusiß, Gehlberg, Martinroda

Website: https://ilmenau.de

GPS coordinates: 50.68722,10.91417

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:25