Jena

Jena is the headquarters of Jenapharm GmbH & Co KG, an independent subsidiary of Pharmaceuticals that has been a Bayer Group company since 2006. Some 180 employees work for this market leader in the field of women's health care, specifically in the oral contraception and menopause management segments, as well as in the andrological products segment for testosterone therapies. Jenapharm's portfolio also includes modern long-term contraceptive methods and a special range of dermatological products and contrast media.

Professional lighting has a long tradition in Jena: Opticians and photonics specialists in Jena have been spearheading innovations and advancements in these fields for over 150 years. The International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL 2015) is a global initiative of international research organizations and UNESCO. Its goal is to communicate to a broader public the significance of light-based technologies. Incidentally, the population of Jena applies for 250 patents a year per 100,000 residents.

One is the Zeiss Planetarium in Jena. It opened its doors to the public on July 18, 1962, making it the world’s oldest projection planetarium. On a total projection surface of 900 square meters, visitors can marvel at the movement of the stars in the vast expanses of space. A unique, full-dome laser projector makes a visit to the planetarium a special experience.

Jena is a city with a rich history. Visitors can see it live, for example along the medieval city wall, with the Johannistor gates and Pulverturm tower – an impressive artifact of the city’s historical fortifications. The view from the towers of Jena’s downtown and its picturesque surroundings is something no visitor or resident should miss.

The cultural highlight in Jena is the annual KulturArena. Every year since 1992, the Thuringian city has been transformed for seven weeks into a stage for theater and cinema events, children’s festivals, and music performances, from pop to world music. The auditorium of the former theater, demolished in 1987, now has seating for 3,000. Some 70,000 people attend the diverse events of the KulturArena every year.

Absolutely. The Saale Valley has the reputation of being the most beautiful river landscape in Germany. Flowing down the slopes of Grosser Waldstein peak in the Fichtel Mountains, the water in the Saale River passes through shadowed valleys to Bleiloch Dam, where it backs up to form impressive fjords, which also have access for swimmers. If you prefer to be on the water instead of in it, you can enjoy the riverscape from a motor- or sailboat, or a tourist steamboat.