As a student in the green city of Jena, you can walk in the footsteps of Schiller and Goethe and become acquainted with one of the bastions of German culture. Jena has everything a student needs. Not only will you receive top-class instruction at the higher education institutions, but you can spend your leisure time in parks, cafés, theatres and museums.
Facts
111,407 Inhabitants ¹
22,190 Students ²
2 Higher education institutions ²
WELCOME TO JENA
The best way to get to Jena is by train. Because you won’t believe your eyes once you’ve disembarked at the Jena-Paradies train station. There, stretching for kilometres around you, is Paradise Park where you’re sure to encounter many sport enthusiasts. The Saale River runs through the middle. Families, students and senior citizens sit on benches along the river bank and chat about their daily lives. Above the trees in the distance, you’ll spot the limestone cliffs which enclose the city of Jena and make it such an extraordinary place.
The character of the city is strongly influenced by its two higher education institutions. One in three inhabitants either study or work at the University of Applied Sciences Jena or the Friedrich Schiller University, whose faculty buildings are scattered throughout town. Jena’s economy benefits from the potential offered by this well-educated pool of young people. Companies like Carl Zeiss, Jenoptik and Schott AG are not only among the largest employers in the region, they are also among the market leaders in their fields.
On a wall in town, you can read “Du bist einfach paradiesisch!” (You are simply paradisiacal!), which you’ll find confirmed by the beauty of the city. When you arrive in Jena, you will be enchanted by its nature and location. There is good reason why famous people throughout history have fallen in love with the town and have studied or taught here. Schiller, Goethe and Novalis are just a few of the well-known residents who have left a lasting impression on Jena. The Goethe Memorial Site, the Romantikerhaus and the Schiller Garden are just some of the important sites you shouldn’t miss.
Tip
You should definitely go hiking in Jena. The limestone cliffs that surround the city are ideal destinations for hiking tours. After a short walk along the Landgrafenstieg, you can relax and enjoy a cold beverage and a beautiful view in a beer garden.
Even though it looks back on a rich history, Jena is by no means a sleepy, backwater town. The students provide youthful energy to the downtown streets which are lined with numerous shops and stores. The , located near the university’s main campus, contains a shopping centre and a large viewing platform up top.
Interview
MARINA FROM RUSSIA
LIVING IN JENA
Jena is a typical student town that offers everything you need or desire after a stressful day of classes. You can relax here, party, play sports and take advantage of a wide array of cultural programmes and events. Although the institutes of both higher education institutions are spread around town, you can reach your next lecture in no time if you have good walking shoes or a bike.
For a small snack, you should try out the cafés in the south end of the city. If you’re in the mood for some luxury, try out the more conventional cafés at the marketplace.
You’ll find lots of students in the Wagnergasse where you can get delicious and the best curried sausage in all of Thuringia. The bars and cafés in the Wagnergasse fill up quickly in the evening. If you and your friends want to find a table at a trendy location, then you’d better get there early.
If you’re in the mood for something quieter, you can go see the exhibitions at the , or take time to smell the flowers at Germany’s second oldest botanical garden. The with its impressive dome of stars is also worth a visit. The offers a diverse cultural programme that caters to the taste of every theatre enthusiast. In the summer, make sure you don’t miss the where plays, movies and concerts are shown and performed night after night on a large open-air stage.
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