Gera, a city in the German state of Thuringia, lies in east Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster ( "White Magpie"), approximately 60 km to the south of the city of Leipzig and 80 km to the east of Erfurt. Gera has a population of approximately 105,000, in an area of 152 sq km. It is a highly forested city and the largest city forest in Thuringia, the City Forest of Gera (Geraer
Stadtwald), occupies the western edge of the city; another forested tract forms the northwest city boundary and the Zeitzer Forest in Saxony-Anhalt is northeast of the city.
How to Get There:
The nearest airport is Leipzig-Altenburg (approx. 40 km). The Leipzig-Halle airport, with it’s with many international destinations, lies about 90 km north of Gera. Gera is no longer served by ICE trains but it is still well served by Regional Express trains, for example to and from Erfurt and Leipzig, and by the Vogtlandbahn, one of the small independent railroad companies, going south to places like Greiz and Plauen. The airport is accessible via the main roads around Gera, which are in average shape. Connections exist to neighbouring cities.
What to See:
Town Hall (1576, Renaissance), Market Square with Simson-fountain, Osterstein Castle, Gera (largely destroyed 1945), Theater (1902), St. Johannis church (Neo-Gothic), St. Salvator church (Baroque with Art Nouveau interior decor), St. Marien church (Late Gothic), St. Trinitatis church (Late Gothic), Old beer cellars called "Geraer Höhler"and the Zoo.
The museums include the City Museum, Otto Dix House, Art Galley "Orangerie", Museum of Natural History ("Schreiber House", the oldest building in the city), with its adjacent botanical garden, the Botanischer Garten Gera and the Museum for Applied Arts ("Ferber House") that displays collections of Bauhaus ceramics by Otto Lindig und Theodor Bogler.
Where to Eat:
Gera has 79 restaurants and those recommended include the Waldgaststatte Jagdhof, Gummistiefel Bierstube,Alt Bieblach, Mitropa Bahnhofsgaststatte and the
Alt-Debschwitzereck among others.
Hotels:
Gera has 14 2-4 star hotels. Four other hotels are also available, which are in a much lower range. Recommended hotels are: Novotel ,Comfort Hotel,The Royal Inn Regent, Courtyard By Marriott, Hotel Am Galgenberg and Best Western Hotel Regent, pentahotel, Goldener Loewe and the Golf Hotel Adler among others.
