Eisenach - History, Economy

50º59N 10º19E, pop (2001e) 43 400. Town in C Germany; 50 km/31 m W of Erfurt; founded, 12th-c; birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, Ernst Abbe, Charlotte von Stein; restored Bach House; hilltop Wartburg Castle dominates the town.

Coordinates: 50°58′N 10°19′E

Eisenach
Country	Germany
State	Thuringia
District	urban district
Population	43,858 source (2005)
Area	103.84 km²
Population density	422 /km²
Elevation	220 m
Coordinates	50°58′ N 10°19′ E
Postal code	99801-99817
Area code	03691
Licence plate code	EA
Mayor	Matthias Doht (SPD)
Website	eisenach.de

Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany.

History

The history of Eisenach is linked with the Wartburg castle, which was built according to legend in 1067.

Eisenach was the place where Martin Luther lived as a child, although he was not born there, and later for his receiving protection by Frederick the Wise after having been pursued for his religious views.

Economy

Automobile manufacturing is an important part of Eisenach economy:

Opel, as part of the overseas operations of General Motors Corporation built an entirely new plant in the northwest of the town, after the Wartburg cars plant had ceased operations in 1989. Following is a selection of other sights in Eisenach:

Open spaces in the city centre

Karlsplatz: adjoins the Nikolaikirche (Church of St. Nicholas) and the Nikolaitor ( St. Nicholas Gate), the only surviving city gate in the town.

Marktplatz: the market square with the Georgenkirche (the Church of St. George), the town hall, the Baroque city castle, as well as a number of highly decorative administration buildings and merchants' houses. Jakobsplan comprises a monument to St George in the centre of the square, part of the old town walls (including one of the look-out towers, and the Goethe Garden

Frauenplan: a small courtyard-type square that takes its name from the "Church of Our Lady".

Stadtschloss

The Stadtschloss (town palace) is situated at the north end of the Market place and was built between 1742 and 1745.

Rathaus or town hall

This former wine cellar on the market square became the townhall of Eisenach in 1596.

Kreuznacher House and dukal residence

Remnants of an early Renaissance building, originally built by the merchant Kreuznacher in 1539, featuring a tower with spiral stairs, and later owned by Duke Ernst August, who between 1741 and 1743 had the building dismantled and taken stone by stone to construct the Stadtschloss from it .

Luther House

The Lutherhaus is one of the oldest and most picturesque half-timbered buildings remaining in Eisenach.

Bach Monument

Financed by other well-known musicians, the more-than-life-size figure portrays Johann Sebastian Bach in his St Thomas's choir-master's clothes and wig.

Bach House

The Bachhaus was the first museum world-wide to be dedicated to the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach in 1907.

"Goldener Löwe" memorial site

On August 7, 1869 the Social Democratic Worker's Party (later to become the Social-Democratic Party of Germany) was founded at this site.

Reuter-Wagner-Museum

Built by Ludwig Bohnstedt between 1866 and 1868, this neo-classical house was the home of Fritz Reuter, a famous poet of the Low German dialect.

Kartaus Garden and Wandelhalle

The attractive garden is all that remains of the original Carthusian monastery, that was consecrated to St.Elisabeth in 1380.

The Narrow House

This house is believed to be the narrowest half-timbered house in Germany.

Luther Monument

Located on Karlsplatz, the monument to Martin Luther was designed by Adolf von Donndorf and was dedicated on May 4, 1895 on the 374th anniversary of Luther's arrival at Wartburg Castle.

Nikolaikirche (Nikolai Church)

The Nikolai church, located on the Karlsplatz, is dedicated to St Nicholas and adjoins the former city gate , the Nikolaitor, which is the only one remaining of the original five gates.

Georgenkirche (Church of St George)

The church at the market square, was first built in the 12th century and later reconstructed in Baroque style (the tower was added even later in 1902).

Eisenach Theatre

The state theatre was established by Julius von Eichel-Streiber in 1879 and constructed to the design of the Leipzig architect Karl Weichardt.

Monument to the Student Fraternities (Burschenschaftsdenkmal)

Built in 1902, the monument stands on a hill opposite the Wartburg Castle in memory of the members of the student movement and others who were killed in the struggle for a united Germany between 1864 to 1871.

Hauptbahnhof (Main Station)

Reconstructed in 1904 in a massive Wilhelminian Gründerzeit style, it has remarkable stained glass windows.