Bad Berka
Coat of arms of Bad Berka
Coordinates 50°54′0″N 11°16′51″E / 50.9°N 11.28083°E / 50.9; 11.28083Coordinates: 50°54′0″N 11°16′51″E / 50.9°N 11.28083°E / 50.9; 11.28083{{#coordinates:50|54|0|N|11|16|51|E|type:city(7631)_region:DE-TH primary name=

}}

Administration
Country Germany
State Thuringia
District Weimarer Land
Town subdivisions 9 Stadtteile
Mayor Thomas Liebetrau
Basic statistics
Area 55.27 km2 (21.34 sq mi)
Elevation 275 m  (902 ft)
Population 7,631  (31 December 2007)
 - Density 138 /km2 (358 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate AP
Postal code 99438
Area code 036458
Website Bad Berka

Bad Berka is a German city, situated in the south of Weimar region in the state of Thuringia. With its almost 8.000 inhabitants Bad Berka is the second biggest city in Weimarer Land district (Apolda, 23.000). The river flowing through the city, which is embedded in new red sandstone, is called Ilm.

Bad Berka is a spa town with an iron-rich spring and Kneipp facilities. In 2002 the award of "State Recognised Spa with Mineral Spring Health Facility" was given to the city. In order to treat tuberculosis, a clinic was erected in 1952. This was the beginning of the main economic sector of the city. Nowadays, Bad Berka's Zentralklinik has made a name for itself as a centre of utmost medicinal expertise far beyond the boundaries of Germany. Its foundation can be traced back to 1898. In addition, there was a rehabilitation clinic built after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The "Median-Klinik" consists of two buildings, which were opened in 1994 and 1997.

Because of its vicinity to the cultural capital Weimar and the numerous historical figures, Bad Berka is also popular among tourists. Between 1812 and 1828 Goethe visited his friend Heinrich Friedrich Schütz several times. He was also involved in the plans of the spa. Therefore, Bad Barka is called "Das Goethebad im Grünen" (Goethe spa in greenery), as well. Bad Berka is surrounded by spruce and beech forest.

Other bigger cities in the vicinity of Bad Berka are Jena (20km north-east), Erfurt (20km north-west) and Weimar (12km north).

History

In 1251, a Cistercian nunnery was founded at Bad Berka, and the sulphur bath spa was established in 1813. In 1945, bombing targets of the Oil Campaign of World War II were the Bad Berka oil plant,[1] oil storage,[2] and underground forced labor plant.[3]

The annual Party.San Open Air music festival was first held in 1996.

Town twinning

Bad Berka is twinned with:

References

  1. McKillop, Jack. "March 1945". Combat Chronology of the USAAF. http://www.usaaf.net/chron/45/mar45.htm. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  2. "2nd Lt. Donald A. Jones". 100th Bomb Group (Heavy): The Bloody Hundredth. 100THBG.COM. http://www.100thbg.com/mainpages/crews/crews1/jones_da1.htm. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  3. Script error


de:Bad Berka

es:Bad Berka eo:Bad Berka fa:باد برکا fr:Bad Berka it:Bad Berka mk:Бад Берка nl:Bad Berka pl:Bad Berka pt:Bad Berka ro:Bad Berka ru:Бад-Берка sr:Бад Берка tr:Bad Berka vo:Bad Berka war:Bad Berka