Meiningen is a county seat and well-known city of culture in the Franconian south of Thuringia.
Meiningen is a center and the largest city in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen and is considered the cultural and legal center of southern Thuringia. The Mittelstadt is essentially based on the high-tech industry, mechanical engineering, tourism and various health care facilities.
Meiningen is located on the Werra, has extensive parks in the city center and numerous classical buildings. The historic old town, which is still surrounded by the medieval moats of the former town fortifications, is characterized by an eclectic quarter and half-timbered buildings as well as town houses.
Meiningen was first mentioned in a document in 982 and belonged to the Hochstift Würzburg for half a millennium. Due to its favorable location, it soon became the most important city in today's southern Thuringian area. This position was able to maintain it from 1583 as the administrative headquarters of Henneberger country and from 1680 as the capital and residence of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen into the 20th century. The city was also known for a profound theater reform under Duke George II and a great heyday of Meininger Hofkapelle under the leadership of well-known conductors such as Hans von Bülow and Max Reger.