Introduction
Thuringia’s intellectual capital has often been a setting for rebellion. In 1524 it became an important hub for Protestant Reformers who were against the Catholic Church; the following year it saw a peasants’ revolt. The end of the Thirty Years War was commemorated with a large-scale peace movement, something which the inhabitants of Jena would repeat throughout history, such as the anti-weapons campaign they embarked on during the Cold War.Friedrich Schiller University was founded in 1558 and for most of its existence has been one of Germany’s most populous universities. It’s home to the botanical garden, the Hilprecht-Collection of Ancient Oriental Art, and the Mineralogical Collection. As befits any student city there is no shortage of shops, bars and clubs; head to the Goethe Galerie for retail therapy, and to Wagnerstrasse for night time recreation.
