Arnstadt

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Arnstadt
Church of St. Boniface (J.S. Bach)
Church of St. Boniface (J.S. Bach)
Coat of arms of Arnstadt
Arnstadt is located in Germany
Arnstadt
Coordinates 50°50′3″N 10°56′47″E / 50.83417°N 10.94639°E / 50.83417; 10.94639Coordinates: 50°50′3″N 10°56′47″E / 50.83417°N 10.94639°E / 50.83417; 10.94639
Administration
Country Germany
State Thuringia
District Ilm-Kreis
Town subdivisions 6
Mayor Alexander Dill
Basic statistics
Area 55.29 km2 (21.35 sq mi)
Elevation 288 m  (945 ft)
Population 24,922 (31 December 2011)[1]
 - Density 451 /km2 (1,167 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate IK
Postal codes 99301–99310
Area code 03628
Website www.arnstadt.de

Arnstadt (About this sound ) is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, situated on the Gera River. It is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia and is nicknamed Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald, The Gate to the Thuringian Forest.

Modern Arnstadt has a population of approximately 25,000. It is a manufacturing center with glassworks and foundries, a solar panel production plant as well as glove-manufacturing and wood-finishing businesses. Manganese is one of the ores mined in the vicinity.

The town hosts an annual high jump meet – Hochsprung mit Musik – which attracts some of the world's foremost high jumpers. Kajsa Bergqvist set a world record in Arnstadt's Sporthalle am Jahn-sportpark in 2006.[2]

Contents

History [edit]

In the 14th century Arnstadt was ruled by the counts of Schwarzburg and later became a capital of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

The composer Johann Sebastian Bach, whose family lived for generations in the vicinity of Arnstadt, became the organist at St Boniface's church in 1703. Most Bach scholars believe his well-known "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" was written here between 1703 and 1709.

Main sights [edit]

Arnstadt has a beautifully kept old city, restricted to pedestrian traffic. Some of its noteworthy buildings include the 13th-century Church of Our Lady and an 18th-century palace.

Gallery [edit]

People [edit]

Twinnings [edit]

References [edit]

Notes [edit]