Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the Southern part of the state of Thuringia in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra.
Meiningen | |
|---|---|
 Theater | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Meiningen  | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Thuringia |
| District | Schmalkalden-Meiningen |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Reinhard Kupietz |
| Area | |
| • Total | 41.38 km2 (15.98 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 287 m (942 ft) |
| Population (2005-12-31) | |
| • Total | 21,448 |
| • Density | 520/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 98617 |
| Dialling codes | 03693 |
| Vehicle registration | SM |
| Website | www.meiningen.de |
History
The place was first mentioned in 982 and was chartered in 1344.
Between 1680 to 1918, it was part of Saxe-Meiningen. The fairy tale collector and writer Ludwig Bechstein was an archivist in Meiningen. The princess of Saxe-Meiningen Adelheid Louise Theresa Caroline Amelia von Sachsen-Meiningen was since 1818 the wife of the English King William IV. The Name of Princess Adelheid is still alive as the Australian city Adelaide.
Main sights
Theatre
The theatre was called the Meininger. It featured plays and has concert halls and had a model effect in Germany and in Europe. Artists like Hans Guido von Bülow were employed. The activity of the Theaterherzog George II of Saxony-Meiningen (1866-1914) lead to international celebrity. Bülow was replaced by Max Reger from 1911 to 1914. Today its name is "Südthüringisches Staatstheater". It has more than 300 people employed and provides a huge area with opera and drama. General Musikdirektor - Hans Urbanek.
Famous Residents
- Max Reger, composer, pianist and conductor
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