Ilmenau - the name sounds smooth and melodic. And indeed, when you drive into the Valley of Ilm, with forests and mountains passing you by, you might suddenly feel the urge to sing the Thuringian anthem as you think of the region's endless hiking trails. Once you reach the bottom of the valley, though, the first impression fades. You suddenly find yourself surrounded by a bus terminal, a supermarket and an ice rink. And above all that, there's a grey sky, which, due to the town's sheltered lowland location, doesn't seem to clear.

From grey to green

This not-so-warm welcome, however, only affects one side of the city. On the other side are the city's outskirts, which gradually blend into nature with charming valleys, picturesque highlands and endless hiking trails. This is where the magic of the Thuringian Forest begins.

The city of Ilmenau was first mentioned in official records in 1273, and in 1341, it received its town charter. The first residents made their living from silver and copper mining, and after that things got quiet again in the Ilm Valley. Later, a glass and porcelain industry developed in the region. Today, some of the glass business still exists, mainly in the form of lab equipment and thermometer production.

Speaking of thermometers, when the temperatures plummet, Ilmenau and the entire Thuringian Forest transform into a wonderland for snow and winter lovers. Whether amateur or pro, everyone will find something to do on the cross-country ski runs and sled tracks. In Ilmenau itself, you can see a great tradition of the luge, which has produced European champions and Olympic medal winners.

The university and the Poet Laureate

The city is also proud of Ilmenau University of Technology, whose 7,000 students are a large group in proportion to the city's 26,000 inhabitants. Whether as an employer, an idea generator for businesses, or as an extra word on the city's road sign, the university functions as a local highlight for the area and an advertising medium rolled into one.

But one significant person needs to be mentioned here: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The poet laureate only visited the city on business at first, but later developed the urge to do some sightseeing in the area. During his hikes, he explored the forests and the valleys, gaining inspiration for his writing. He dedicated the poem "Ilmenau" to the city, and wrote another one in a state of exuberance on the wall of a wooden hut, after an exhilarating natural experience on the Kickelhahn mountain. Both the hut and the mountain have become tourist attractions, and the poem "Ueber allen Gipfeln ist Ruh" or "Above All Summits is Peace" is taught to children in schools.

Author: Sven Naebrich