Meiningen is a town in the southern part of the German state of Thuringia, in the region of Franconia, with a population of around 26,000 in 2024. It is the capital and largest town of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, and from 1680 to 1918 it was the capital of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, then briefly of the Free State of Saxe-Meiningen. The town lies in the valley of the Werra between the Thuringian Forest and the Rhon Mountains. It grew from a Frankish-era settlement at the crossing of two trade routes and a ford, and by the late nineteenth century several large banks made it an important financial centre. Today it is regarded as the cultural, judicial and financial centre of southern Thuringia, with a state theatre, state archives and many museums, and an economy based on mechanical engineering, high technology and tourism.
Facts
Sources
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.