Welcome to Jena

Jena is not only famous for its high-tech industry, internationally renowned research institutions and a modern university, but also for its beautiful natural setting in the Saale valley with its steep limestone slopes. The climate is mild, and a large variety of plants grow in the close surroundings, including wine grapes and wild orchids. The Saale valley and the nearby Thuringian Forest are perfect for walking, biking and winter sports. With Jena’s central location, it is also easy to travel to cities like Weimar, Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin, Munich, but also within Europe, to Vienna, Paris, Amsterdam or Prague.

Jena’s university was founded in 1548 and is today named after Friedrich Schiller, who taught as a professor here, along with Goethe, Fichte and Hegel. Ernst Abbe, Carl Zeiss and Otto Schott made Jena famous as a center for precision machinery, optics and glass making. Jena has been German ‘city of science’ in 2008.

We give you here a collection of links and recommendations about general life in Jena, its cultural scene and recreation.

Where to go, what to do...

Go to Editor View