Photos

Gera view 2
Gera, situated in the valley of the White Elster, was first documented in 995 and received her town charter in 1237. The small residential town developed into a fabric and cloth production centre and by the end of the 19th Century had a flourishing textile industry. In the past, Gera's 120,000 inhabitants haven't had it easy: plagued by frequent, heavy conflagrations, the city always had to take the risk and start anew and Gera's history has therefore remained contemporary. The market square is surrounded by carefully restored, colourful houses. Even if the panel constructs in "Little Leipzig" remind you of her socialist past, there are many architecturally histori-cal highlights to discover on an average walk
through Gera, such as the Art Nouveau theatre, the baroque city museum and the chemist at the market with its splendid round bay window. In the historical
Untermhaus part of town is the birth house of the painter and artist, Otto Dix. An exhibition of the life and work of the artist, along with the unique
contemporary presentations in the Orangerie, is a large part of Gera's art collection. A trip on public transport can be quite funny: where else in Germany
would a tram run straight through a house?

Gera is situated directly on the A4 motorway between Frankfurt and Dresden (junctions at Gera-Nord or Gera-Leumnitz). From Nuremberg, the A9 towards Berlin
(exit: Hermsdorfer Kreuz) will take you straight there. Gera is also easily accessible by the B2 through Hof towards Leipzig. Daily fast trains to Leipzig as well as InterRegio trains also stop at Gera.

Part II