Today’s spot of the day takes us to Jena, Germany. This is a quaint town with hundreds of years of history to wow today’s visitors with. From the planetarium to the botanical gardens, there is something for everyone of all ages to see and do here. Jena is the perfect blend of tradition and modernity. 

• As a university town, Jena has turned itself into a center of education and research in Germany.
• Jena is the second largest city in all of Thuringia.
• Jena has an estimated population of 110,000 residents, with roughly 26,000 of those being college students.
• It is estimated that Jena can trace its origin all the way back to the year 1182.
• When visiting Jena, you will want to see the astronomical clock. It is located in the Town Hall that was built in the 13th century.
• There is a gothic church that should not be missed. St. Michael’s Church was established in 1506. Located there is a bronze slab that is from the tomb of Martin Luther.
• In Jena’s market square is also a monument to John Frederick the Magnanimous.
• There are also a number of towers that served as medieval fortifications in the 13th and 14th centuries. The most famous of these is the Powder Tower.
• Not to be missed is the Botanischer Garten Jena. This is a botanical garden that was established in 1580, making it the second oldest in all of Germany.
• When visiting the Jen-Tower, you will want to make yourself to the 27th floor. This is where you grab a meal in the restaurant while viewing the city from the observation platform.

This should provide you with more than enough information to get ready for a spectacular trip to this part of Germany.