Apolda () is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in central

Thuringia Thuringia (; officially the Free State of Thuringia, ) is one of Germany, Germany's 16 States of Germany, states. With 2.1 million people, it is 12th-largest by population, and with 16,171 square kilometers, it is 11th-largest in area. Er ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, the capital of the Weimarer Land district. It is situated in the center of the triangle

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), German state of Thuringia, in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt to the west and Jena to the east, southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together w ...

–

Jena Jena (; ) is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in Germany and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 in ...

–

Naumburg Naumburg () is a town in (and the administrative capital of) the district Burgenlandkreis, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany. It has a population of around 33,000. The Naumburg Cathedral became a UNES ...

near the river Ilm, c. east by north from

. Apolda station lies on the Halle–Bebra railway, which is part of the main line from

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

History

Apolda was first mentioned in 1119. Until 1633 it was seat of a family of nobles, the Vitzthums, which acted relatively independent. Between 1633 and World War I Apolda was property of the

University of Jena The University of Jena, officially the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (, abbreviated FSU, shortened form ''Uni Jena''), is a public research university located in Jena, Thuringia, Germany. The university was established in 1558 and is cou ...

. Nevertheless, from 1691 to 1809 Apolda was part of the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar and from 1809 to 1918 of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (after 1815 Grand Duchy). Around 1700, the knitting industry began to grow, so that finally, at the end of the 19th century, Apolda was the wealthiest town of the whole region. On July 12–17, 1945, Apolda issued a set of three of its own postage stamps. They depicted a new sprig growing up out of a tree stump. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Thuringia became part of the

German Democratic Republic East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

. Up to

German reunification German reunification () was the process of re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990 with the dissolution of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic and the int ...

, Apolda still was famous for its textile industries. Since then, a notable economic decay has taken place.

Main historic sights

It possesses several churches and monuments to the Dobermann Pinscher dog breed, which was created in Apolda, and to Christian Zimmermann (1759–1842), who, by introducing the hosiery and cloth manufacture, made Apolda one of the most important places in Germany in these branches of industry. By 1900 it also had had extensive dyeworks, bell foundries, and manufactures of steam engines, boilers, cars and bicycles. After

the majority of these had to be closed down for economical reasons. The largest free hanging bell in the world, the ''Decke Pitter'' of Cologne Cathedral, was made in Apolda. Apolda also has mineral springs. The most important sights are: * St. Martin's Church (1119), details in Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque style * Town Hall (1558/9), in Renaissance style * Castle (16th/17th century) * Railway viaduct (1845/46) * Lutherkirche (1894) * St. Boniface's Church (1894) * Glocken museum (Bell museum) * Prager house (1925), a

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

memorial

Architecture

The Zimmermann factory building (1880-1881) was designed by the architect Karl Timmler and is noted for its yellow brick cladding. The Eiermann Building (1906-1907) was designed by the Bauhaus architect Egon Eiermann who evangelized about '' Neues Bauen'' in the 1930s. Eiermann converted the existing structure, adding a roof terrace reminiscent of a ship deck.

Mayors

Ernst Stegmann was the long-time mayor of Apolda with 33 years in office (1901-1934).

Twin towns – sister cities

Apolda is twinned with: * Mark, Sweden * Rapid City, United States * San Miniato, Italy * Seclin, France

Notable people

Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann (; ; 2 January 1834 – 9 June 1894) was the first breeder of the Dobermann The Dobermann is a German list of dog breeds, breed of medium-large working dog of pinscher type. It was originally bred in Thuringi ...

(1834–1894), first breeder of the Doberman Pinscher * Otto Franz Georg Schilling (1911–1973), mathematician * Albert Raisner (1922–2011), musician and TV host * Klaus Agthe (born 1930), businessman and author * Mike Mohring (born 1971), politician (CDU) * Erich Seidel, ophthalmologist known for Seidel test and Seidel sign

References

Weimarer Land {{WeimarerLand-geo-stub