Thuringia (Thüringen)

Gerbershausen, Thuringia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gerbershausen_Rapsfeld.jpg
Author: Tobi78


Thuringia is a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. Known in German as Freistaat Thüringen, it was one of the states of the former East Germany. Thuringia shares a border with Lower Saxony to the north, Saxony-Anhalt to the northeast, Saxony to the east, Bavaria to the south and Hesse to the west.

St Marienkirche in Gera-Untermhaus, Thuringia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gera_Untermhaus_St._Marienkirche_%282007%29.JPG
Author: Zacke82


Thuringia is located in central Germany. A densely forested state, it is often called the Green Heart of Germany. It covers 16,171 sq km (6,243 sq mi) and has a population of 2.3 million people. Its capital is Erfurt. It observes the Central European Time, which is an hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1) and two hours ahead during Daylight Saving Time in summer.

Today Thuringia has become a popular destination for nature recreation and winter spots. The state has produced many athletes in winter sports, and in the last two Winter Olympics, athletes from Thuringia won half the gold medals received by Germany.

Thuringia is divided into 17 rural districts and six urban district. The main geographical feature of Thuringia is the Thuringian Forest, which covers much of the southwestern part of the state and merges into the Harz Mountains.

Stadtlingen, Thuringia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StedtlingenKaserne.jpg
Author: Togodumnus


Thuringia traces its history to a Germanic tribe called Thuringii, which inhabited the area as early as AD 280. Thuringia was later ruled by the Franks and subsequently was absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire. Protestant Reformation led to the Catholic faith being abolished in 1520. Today 25% are still members of the Evangelical Church and 8% of the Catholic church. Having been ruled by the Communist for so long, many of the people in Thuringia no longer practise religion. The border of Thuringia has shifted many times through its long history. Thuringia was made part of the German Confederation in 1815. In 1871, it became part of the German Empire. Following World War I, a new state of Thuringia was formed. It came under Soviet occupation following World War II, which led to it being a state of the former German Democratic Republic from 1952 until 1990, when reunification brought it into the Federal Republic of Germany.

Visiting Thuringia

There are high-speed ICE trains connecting Erfurt with major cities in Germany including Berlin, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden and Frankfurt.

Erfurt Town Hall
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luftbild_Erfurter_Rathaus.jpg
Author: TomKidd

Cities in Thuringia

World Heritage Site in Thuringia

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