Suhl Facts for Kids

Suhl is a city in Thuringia, Germany, located 50 kilometres (31 miles) SW of Erfurt, 110 kilometres (68 miles) NE of Würzburg and 130 kilometres (81 miles) N of Nuremberg. With its 37,000 inhabitants, it is the smallest of the six urban districts within Thuringia. Together with its northern neighbour-town Zella-Mehlis, Suhl forms the largest urban area in the Thuringian Forest with a population of 46,000. The region around Suhl is marked by up to 1,000-meter high mountains, including Thuringia's highest peak, the Großer Beerberg (983 m), approximately 5 kilometres (3 miles) NE of the city centre.

Suhl was first mentioned in 1318 and stayed a small mining and metalworking town, until industrialization broke through in late 19th century and Suhl became a centre of Germany's arms production, specialized on rifles and guns with companies such as Sauer & Sohn. Furthermore, the engineering industry was based in Suhl with Simson, a famous car and moped producer. In 1952, Suhl became one of East Germany's 14 district capitals, which led to a government-directed period of urban growth and conversion. Its results – a typical 1960s concrete architecture-marked city centre – are defining to the present. With the loss of its administrative and industrial functions, Suhl saw a lasting period of urban decline starting in 1990.

Suhl is known for its sportsmen, especially in shooting, winter sports, and volleyball.

Images for kids

Panoramic view over Suhl and the mountains around
District map
Fahrzeugmuseum (entrance)
The new city centre in 1974
The central mall in 1969
A building of the former Simson factory with A 73's Haseltal bridge in background
Another former Simson building
Local train to Erfurt at Suhl station
Dr. Wilhelm Cuno 1919
Friedrich Koenig around 1830
St. Mary's Church
Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Chapel
Town hall
Malzhaus hosting the arms museum
Kulturhaus
Town hall of Heinrichs district

Suhl facts for kids

Images for kids

See also