Gera

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
Wappen = wappen Gera.pnglat_deg = 50 |lat_min = 52|lat_sec = 50
lon_deg = 12 |lon_min = 05 |lon_sec = 00
Lageplan = Lage der kreisfreien Stadt Gera in Deutschland.pngLageplanbeschreibung = Location of Gera within Germany
Bundesland = Thuringia
Landkreis = Kreisfreie Stadt
Höhe = 205
image_photo=Blick vom Rathausturm über Gera.jpg
image_caption=A view of Gera.
Fläche = 151.93
Einwohner = 102486
Stand = 2006-12-31
pop_ref = [cite web |url=http://www.tls.thueringen.de/seite.asp?aktiv=dat01&startbei=datenbank/default2.asp |title=Population of Thuringia by district |author=Thüringer Landesamt für Statistik |accessdate=2007-08-10]
PLZ = 07457-07557
Vorwahl = 0365, 0336695
Kfz = G
Website = [http://www.gera.de/ www.gera.de]
Bürgermeister = Norbert Vornehm
Bürgermeistertitel =
Partei = SPD
year = 995

Gera is the third largest city in the German state of Thuringia after Erfurt, the Thuringian capital. It is situated in east Thuringia on the river "White Elster" (literally the "White Magpie"), approximately 60 kilometres to the south of the city of Leipzig and 80 kilometers to the east of Erfurt. In 2006 Gera had a population of approximately 102,000.

History

The name "Gera" was first mentioned in 995. From 1848 to 1918 Gera was the capital of the Reuss Junior Line principality. In 1920 the city became part of Thuringia ("German:" Thüringen). Large portions of the city were destroyed by aerial bombing in 1945. Until German reunification in 1990 the city belonged to the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Main sights

Sights in Gera include:
* Town Hall (1576, Renaissance)
* Market Square with Simson-fountain
* Castle Osterstein (largely destroyed 1945)
* City Pharmacy
* Theater (1902)
* Villa Schulenburg, designed by Henry van de Velde
* St. Johannis church (Neo-Gothic)
*St. Salvator church (Baroque with Art Nouveau interior decoration)
*St. Marien church (Late Gothic)
*St. Trinitatis church (Late Gothic)
* Old beer cellars called "Geraer Höhler"
* Zoo Gera (since 1973)

Museums in Gera include:
* City Museum
* Otto Dix House
* Art Galley "Orangerie"
* Museum of Natural History ("Schreiber House", oldest building in the city)
* Museum for Applied Arts ("Ferber House")

In 2007 Gera, together with Ronneburg, is venue of the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesgartenschau Bundesgartenschau] (the federal horticultural show).

Transportation

In the eastern part of Gera lies the airfield Gera-Leumnitz. The nearest airport is Leipzig-Altenburg (approx. 40 km). The airport Leipzig-Halle with many international destinations is about 90 km north of Gera.

Twin towns

* Nuremberg, Germany
* Saint-Denis, France
* Sliven, Bulgaria
* Plzeň, Czech Republic
* Kuopio Finland
* Timişoara, Romania
* Arnhem, Netherlands
* Rostov-on-Don, Russia
* Fort Wayne, United States
* Skierniewice, Poland
* Pskov, Russia
* Goražde, Bosnia

Notable natives

*Johann Heinrich Gottfried Koch, (1705-1775)
*Heinrich Gustav Beck, (1857-1933), Ministerpräsident of Saxony 1914-1918
*Otto Dix (1891-1969), artist
*Rudolf Paul, (1893-1978), President of Thuringia 1945-1947
*Karl Weschke, (1925-2005), painter
*Georg Buschner, (born 1925), head coach East Germany national football team
*Helga Königsdorf, (born 1938), mathematician and author
*Marlies Göhr, (born 1958), athlete
*Olaf Ludwig, (born 1960), racing cyclist
*Wolfgang Tiefensee, (born 1955), politician
*Heike Drechsler, (born 1964), Olympic gold medalist long jumper
*Jens Heppner, (born 1964), racing cyclist

References

External links

* [http://www.gera.de/ Official website of Gera]