Gera

Gera was for centuries the residence of the House of Reuss, one of the many minor German princely lines, and the town's old centre still reflects that history: the Renaissance town hall on the Marktplatz was built in 1573–76, and the surrounding square keeps its ensemble of 18th-century late-Baroque patrician houses. The Reuss family's residences included Schloss Osterstein (their main seat, badly damaged in 1945 and largely demolished, with only its tower surviving) and Schloss Tinz, a Baroque summer residence. Beneath the city centre runs the Höhler, an extensive network of cellars — around 9 km long — cut in the 17th and 18th centuries for storing beer.

By train

Gera Hauptbahnhof (main station) is a 5- to 10-min walk from the city centre, but is just served by regional trains. The trains arrive from several directions. Most connections go to Leipzig, Jena/Weimar/Erfurt, Saalfeld or Chemnitz, where you have access to long-distance traffic. Others serve towns like Altenburg or Greiz; there are sporadic connections to Regensburg or Göttingen.

The tram can be reached directly from the platforms.

By car

Gera has a direct connection to the west-east motorway (Autobahn) A4 (Frankfurt-Dresden), the interchange with the north-south motorway A9 (Berlin-Munich) is about 15 km east. To reach the city take the exit Gera-Langenberg , which is about 4 km in the north of the centre. There is also a gas station and a McDonald's, which is the best meeting point for shared rides and hitchhiking.

The town centre of Gera is compact and walkable. Local buses connect the main districts and nearby attractions. Taxis are available from the train station.

Town hall

( Rathaus ),

Marktplatz .

One of the biggest Renaissance town halls in Germany with a nearly 60-m-high tower, built between 1573 and 1576. The Marktplatz forms a good ensemble of 18th-century patricians' houses in late-Baroque style.  

Stadttheater ,

Küchengartenallee .

The former royal Reussian theatre, built in 1902 by Heinrich Seeling in neo-Baroque style.  

Stadtapotheke

( city pharmacy ),

Marktplatz .

A Renaissance building with a beautiful bay, established in 1592.  

Küchengarten .

With the Orangerie , it is a park ensemble west of the city centre, established in 1732 by the Reussians.  

Höhler

( a part can be visited via an entrance at Nicolaiberg 3 ).

A cellar system under the city centre with a length of approx. 9   km (6   mi), established in 17th and 18th century for storing beer.  

Schloss Tinz .

It was the royal summer residence of the Reussians, built in 1748 in Baroque style with a surrounding park.  

Schloss Osterstein .

It was the main royal residence of the Reussians, built during the 16th century in Renaissance style. It was hit by bombs in 1945 and partial demolished in 1962. Only the tower remained.  

Ci

Part of the Höhler cellar system can be toured via its entrance at Nicolaiberg 3, and the Küchengarten park with its Orangerie is worth a walk.

Anadolu Schnellrestaurant ,

Altenburger Str. 20 ,

☏

+49 365 28489 .  

Café Graf Zeppelin ,

Rudolf-Diener-Straße 17 ,

☏

+49 365 824260 .  

Gasthaus zum Höhler ,

Steinweg 18-20 ,

☏

+49 365 5514080 .

Thüringer specialities  

Ambiente ,

Schlossstraße 1 ,

☏

+49 365 619283 .

Budget

Pension Gleis 7 im Südbahnhof ,

☏

+49 365 77316930 .  

Ferienwohnung Prüfer ,

Ruckdeschelstr. 26

( near Bahnhof Zwötzen ),

☏

+49 365 37173 .  

Gästewohnung Simone Böhme ,

Colliser Str. 21

( Pforten, in Gessental direction Collis /Kaimberg ),

☏

+49 365 7109713 .  

Ferienwohnung Am Zaufensgraben ,

Meuselwitzer Str. 103 A

( Pforten ),

☏

+49 365 7120029 .  

Mid-range

Apart Hotel Gera ,

Hofer Straße 12 d

( am Rande des Stadtwaldes ),

☏

+49 365 82150 ,

fax : +49 365 8215200 .  

City Partner Servicehotel Gewürzmühle ,

Clara-Viebig-Str. 4 ,

☏

+49 365 824330 ,

fax : +49 365 8243344 ,

[email protected] .  

Hotel Restaurant Zwergschlösschen ,

Untermhäuser Straße 67/ 69 .  

The Royal Inn Regent Gera ,

Schülerstraße 22 ,

☏

+49 365 91810 .

from €48.90 .   ( updated Jun 2015 )

• Berlin — Germany's capital city, reachable by regional train
• Nearby towns in Thüringen — explore the surrounding region