A beacon that lights up Thuringia

Jena – city of light

Jena owes its reputation as an innovative city of science in no small part to brilliant minds like Carl Zeiß, Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott. As well as laying the foundations of modern optics, they also knew how to convert their knowledge into practical applications. Over the years, a number of technology companies and research institutes whose success is closely linked to light in its various forms have followed in their footsteps.

But today, Jena’s star attractions are not confined to microscopes, telescopes and other optical instruments. Instead, the city offers a multi-faceted array of attractions, a kaleidoscope of possibilities in the heart of Thuringia.

City of bright minds

Long before the days of Zeiß, Abbe and Schott, Jena was already attracting many eminent thinkers. The city on the River Saale certainly inspired numerous flashes of inspiration, both of the scientific and of the cultural kind. It’s not surprising that luminaries such as Goethe and Schiller felt right at home in Jena, frequently spending weeks here exchanging thoughts, opinions and ideas.

It is quite obvious that Jena is very much a modern student city. Whether it’s over a drink in the trendy Strand22 beach bar, in conversation with young creatives at the Kunstgarten art fair or dancing the night away at the Kassablanca – the students add a buzz to the city and this vibrancy transfers into other areas of life. All sorts of innovators radiate a wealth of ideas that can be felt in many parts of Jena, not just around the academic centres.

Take Stefan and Franziska Weiland, for example, with their Scandinavian-inspired Holz & Hygge café and design shop in Unterlauengasse. The couple spent several years in Copenhagen, and on their return decided to bring the Nordic vibe from the Danish capital to Jena. The result is a very modern kind of lifestyle oasis where it is easy to switch off and enjoy the beauty of everyday moments.

Innovative and hungry for knowledge: three highLIGHTS in Jena

Would you like to experience Jena’s star attractions for yourself and find out what makes this city on the Saale river so special? Then be sure to check out these three glittering highLIGHTS.

#1 The JenTower
From ‘dominator’ to ‘stack of biscuits’ – at a height of 159.60 metres, Jena’s most famous landmark is hard to miss. The JenTower was originally built to symbolise socialist supremacy, these days the tallest building in eastern Germany houses offices. A trip up to the viewing platform on the 28th floor of the tower offers not only panoramic views but also a great sense of lofty superiority. With the city laid out at your feet like some tiny model village while the wind is ruffling your hair and your eyes are scanning the horizon far across the Saale valley, it doesn’t take very long before you’re overcome by an irrepressible feeling of freedom and happiness.

The view from the JenTower is particularly impressive at sunset and during the ‘blue hour’ that follows it. At that time it almost seems as if the city was draped in a shimmering cloak. When the houses and the surrounding hills are illuminated in almost surreal colours, the words ‘city of light’ take on a whole new meaning.

By the way, the round shape of the JenTower is meant to resemble a telescope, in homage to Jena’s tradition of building optical instruments. The tower’s windows should have been round rather than square, according to architect Hermann Henselmann. Their shape was intended to be reminiscent of optical lenses, but the East German government regarded such ‘extras’ as too expensive.

#2 The Zeiss Planetarium
The Zeiss Planetarium in Jena is the perfect place to immerse yourself in other worlds. State-of-the-art projection equipment, made by Zeiss in Jena, of course, transforms the huge dome of the planetarium into a brilliant night sky with thousands of stars. You can also admire the fragile beauty of the aurora borealis here, accompany the Voyager space probe on its journey of exploration, dive into the depth of the ocean or take a trip into the far future of our universe.

The great thing about all of these shows is that they manage to effortlessly combine thrilling entertainment with exciting educational elements. So as you relax back into your seat you can look forward to a truly lavish and breathtaking experience for your eyes and ears.

Whichever programme you choose, a visit to Jena’s Zeiss Planetarium will transport you from the mad rush of everyday life into the infinity of intergalactic space and allow you to forget all about the here and now. There are few other places where you can enjoy that sort of freedom.

#3 Imaginata – a world of sensory experiences
The close links between Jena and various scientific disciplines are also evident at the Imaginata. If you were under the impression that this is simply another ordinary museum with a few interactive elements, then think again! This science centre in the north of the city styles itself as a world of sensory experiences and contains around 100 exhibits from the fields of optical illusions, physics and mathematics.

Touching and experimenting is not only permitted but positively encouraged – after all, learning by doing is by far the best way of acquiring knowledge. And that is why the stations of the Imaginata allow you to explore to your heart’s content, and in doing so obtain lasting insights and impressions. This type of inspiration boosts the spirit, opens up new perspectives and can even prove to be quite thrilling. How would you like to ride a bicycle over a tightrope? At the Imaginata you can experience that particular type of freedom.

Urban living meets breathtaking nature

But Jena, the cradle of the optical industry, offers locals and visitors more than urban living and an innovative spirit of discovery. When it comes down to it, it’s the compelling mixture of a vibrant big city buzz and the close proximity to nature that makes up the unique character of the city of light. With the SaaleHorizontale walking trail, Paradiespark and the Saale Cycle Route, Jena offers plenty of scope for adventures in spectacular natural surroundings that create a refreshing counterpoint to the innovative energy of the research location.

Tip

If you would like to try the SaaleHorizontale walking trail out for yourself, make a note in your calendar for 23 and 24 May 2025. Those are the dates of the 38th ‘Horizontale – Rund um Jena’, one of the most challenging walking events in Germany.

Text: Jessika Fichtel is a freelance copywriter, blogger and book author from Eisenach. She creates authentic content with passion and expertise.
Header picture: Moritz Kertzscher, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH