Apolda

Apolda is a district capital in Weimarer Land, Thuringia, sitting at roughly 205 meters elevation in the central part of the state. The settlement covers around 46 square kilometers and counts nearly 23000 residents spread across several neighborhoods along gentle hills and small valleys.

Until 1922 the town belonged to the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and then shifted into new Thuringian administrative structures. In 1952 East German authorities split the area between new districts named Weimar and Apolda, a division reversed only after reunification.

The name may come from old words related to apple trees, and today three apples appear on the town coat of arms. Visitors walking through the center notice these symbols on buildings and signs, linking the place to its early agricultural roots and local identity.

Erfurt lies roughly 33 kilometers to the west, and Berlin sits about 213 kilometers to the northeast. Several bus routes link the neighborhoods and schools, making it easy for visitors to move between residential areas and the center.

The coat of arms displays three apples alongside the Wheel of Mainz and a lion representing the old Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach rule. This combination of unrelated symbols in a small space tells of several historical influences that crossed here and remain visible today.

Location: Weimarer Land

Elevation above the sea: 205 m

Shares border with: Bad Sulza, Ilmtal-Weinstraße, Wiegendorf

Website: https://apolda.de

GPS coordinates: 51.02472,11.51389

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:01