Jena Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Jena

Jena Market Square

Coat of arms

Country

Elevation

155 m (509 ft)

Population

(2022-12-31)

• Total

111,191

CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)

07701 – 07751

03641

Website

www.jena.de

Jena is a German university city and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, while the city itself has a population of about 110,000. Jena is a centre of education and research; the Friedrich Schiller University was founded in 1558 and has 21,000 students today and the Ernst-Abbe-Fachhochschule Jena counts another 5,000 students. Furthermore, there are many institutes of the leading German research societies.

The Jen Tower is a symbol of East Germany's economy

Jena was first mentioned in 1182 and stayed a small town until the 19th century, when industry developed. For most of the 20th century, Jena was a world centre of the optical industry. As one of only a few medium-sized cities in Germany, it has some high-rise buildings in the city centre, like the Jen Tower.

The city's economy is based on the high-technology industry and research. The optical and precision industry is the leading branch to date, while software engineering, other digital businesses and biotechnology are of growing importance. Furthermore, Jena is also a service hub for the surrounding regions.

Jena lies in a hilly landscape in the east of Thuringia, within the wide valley of the Saale river.

Main sights

The 13th century Town Hall ("Rathaus"). It has an astronomical clock featuring the "Snatching Hans" ("Schnapphans").
The Gothic St. Michael's Church ("Michaelskirche", 1506). It has a bronze slab of Martin Luther's tomb
Monument to John Frederick the Magnanimous (1905–08), in the Market Square
Numerous towers from the medieval fortifications, including the Powder Tower (13th-14th centuries)
House of Friedrich Schiller and his Wedding Church
The Botanischer Garten Jena, founded in 1580, the second oldest botanical garden in Germany
Jen-Tower, a research edifice built in GDR times. There is a restaurant and viewing platform at the 27th floor

In the neighbourhood are the Dornburg Castles and the Kapellendorf Moated Castle.

Images for kids

Lobdeburg Castle above Lobeda district
Jena in 1650
The battle of Jena in 1806
Bau 15 of the Carl Zeiss factory, Germany's first high-rise building, established in 1915
The Eichplatz in the city centre
Typical street scenery in Jena: The "Holzmarkt" in the city-centre
The medieval bridge across the Saale in Burgau district
Paradies station
A tram near Jena Paradies Station
University of Jena
University Library
Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld in 1942.
Optisches Museum
Phyletisches Museum
Stadtmuseum
Romantikerhaus
Schillers Gartenhaus
Botanischer Garten
Museum 1806 in Cospeda
Main church St. Michael
St. John's Church
Peace Church
Schiller Church
Church of Lobeda
Church of Vierzehnheiligen
Church of Ziegenhain
Johannistor, medieval city gate
Town hall
Planetarium
University Main Building
Ernst Abbe Monument
Pulverturm at night
Jen Tower

Jena facts for kids

Main sights

Images for kids

See also