Gera 244648 221995419 2008-06-27T01:33:17Z Editor2020 6046894 cleanup {{otheruses}} {{Infobox German Location |Art = Stadt |Wappen = wappen Gera.png |lat_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.png |Lageplanbeschreibung = 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 = <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}}</ref> |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|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 architecture|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, Thuringia|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 Airport|Leipzig-Altenburg]] (approx. 40 km). The airport [[Leipzig/Halle Airport|Leipzig-Halle]] with many international destinations is about 90 km north of Gera. ==Twin towns== * {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nuremberg]], [[Germany]] * {{flagicon|France}} [[Saint-Denis]], [[France]] * {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Sliven]], [[Bulgaria]] * {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Plzeň]], [[Czech Republic]] * {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Kuopio]] [[Finland]] * {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Timişoara]], [[Romania]] * {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Arnhem]], [[Netherlands]] * {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Rostov-on-Don]], [[Russia]] * {{flagicon|USA}} [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]], [[United States]] * {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Skierniewice]], [[Poland]] * {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Pskov]], [[Russia]] * {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Goražde]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|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), athlete *Jens Heppner, (born 1964), racing cyclist ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.gera.de/ Official website of Gera] {{Germany districts thuringia}} [[Category:Gera| ]] [[bs:Gera]] [[bg:Гера]] [[ca:Gera]] [[cs:Gera]] [[da:Gera]] [[de:Gera]] [[et:Gera]] [[es:Gera]] [[eo:Gera]] [[fr:Gera]] [[hsb:Gera]] [[hr:Gera]] [[io:Gera]] [[id:Gera]] [[it:Gera]] [[la:Gerapolis]] [[hu:Gera]] [[nl:Gera]] [[ja:ゲーラ]] [[no:Gera]] [[nn:Gera]] [[pms:Gera]] [[pl:Gera]] [[pt:Gera]] [[ro:Gera]] [[ru:Гера (город в Германии)]] [[sq:Gera]] [[simple:Gera]] [[sk:Gera]] [[sr:Гера]] [[fi:Gera]] [[sv:Gera]] [[vi:Gera]] [[tr:Gera]] [[vo:Gera]] [[zh:格拉]]