Gräfenthal

Gräfenthal is a town in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in Thuringia, Germany.

Gräfenthal
Town hall
Coat of arms
Location of Gräfenthal within Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district
Gräfenthal
Gräfenthal
Coordinates: 50°32′N 11°18′E
CountryGermany
StateThuringia
DistrictSaalfeld-Rudolstadt
Municipal assoc.Schiefergebirge
Subdivisions8
Government
 • MayorProf. Dr. Ing. Wolfgang Wehr
Area
 • Total36.45 km2 (14.07 sq mi)
Elevation
400 m (1,300 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
 • Total1,935
 • Density53/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
98743
Dialling codes036703
Vehicle registrationSLF
Websitewww.graefenthal.de

Geography

Gräfenthal is located in the southern Thüringer Schiefergebirge, a low mountain range south-eastern of the better known Thuringian Forest. Mountains in this region rise up to 800 meters above sea level and are usually wooded with spruce trees. 20 km north-eastern of Gräfenthal lies district town Saalfeld.

Neighboring municipalities (clockwise, starting northwards) are: Reichmannsdorf, Probstzella, Ludwigsstadt, Tettau, Oberland am Rennsteig, Piesau, Lichte, Schmiedefeld

Gräfenthal has 8 subdivisions:

  • Buchbach
  • Creunitz
  • Gebersdorf
  • Gräfenthal
  • Großneundorf
  • Lichtenhain
  • Lippelsdorf
  • Sommersdorf

History

In 1288 the town was first mentioned. It was for much of its early history under various Ernestine princelings.

Number of inhabitants
  • 1994: 3.146
  • 1997: 3.036
  • 2000: 2.913
  • 2003: 2.808
  • 2006: 2.692
  • 2009: 2.499
  • 2012: 2.150
  • 2014: 2.056

Pictures
Gräfenthal Market place Town hall
Gräfenthal-Market place
Gräfenthal-School

Buildings
  • Castle Wespenstein
  • Grenz- und Heimatmuseum Gräfenthal
  • Town church, with restored Art Nouveau mural paintings.
  • Railway viaduct

Economy and infrastructure

Erstwhile mining and the location at the route for commerce between Nuremberg and Leipzig were important economical factors. Mainly iron, slate and alum had been mined. During the 20th century Gräfenthal was well known for its porcelain products. From the formerly three manufacturies only one is still in existence. Today a plastics factory is the main employer.

Gräfenthal lies on the road between Neuhaus am Rennweg and Probstzella. Further roads lead to surrounding municipalities. The town used to be connected to the railway-system up until the line section between Sonneberg and Probstzella became disused due to lacking profitability.

Sons and daughters of the town
  • Reinhard Höhn (1904-2000), state and administrative lawyer in the Period of National Socialism
  • Helmut Lipfert (1916-1990), Luftwaffe officer in World War II
  • Christian Paschold (born 1949), sculptor, artist

References
  1. "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden, erfüllenden Gemeinden und Verwaltungsgemeinschaften in Thüringen Gebietsstand: 31.12.2019". Thüringer Landesamt für Statistik (in German). August 2020.


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