Meiningen

Meiningen
Stadtkirche (town church)
Location of Meiningen within Schmalkalden-Meiningen district

Location of Meiningen
Meiningen
Meiningen
Coordinates: 50°33′N 10°25′E / 50.550°N 10.417°E / 50.550; 10.417
CountryGermany
StateThuringia
DistrictSchmalkalden-Meiningen
Government
 • Mayor (2024–30) Fabian Giesder (SPD)
Area
 • Total
123.03 km2 (47.50 sq mi)
Elevation
287 m (942 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)
 • Total
24,867
 • Density202.12/km2 (523.49/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
98617
Dialling codes03693
Vehicle registrationMGN, SM
Websitewww.meiningen.de

Meiningen (German: [ˈmaɪnɪŋən] ) is a town in the southern part of the German state of Thuringia. It is located in the region of Franconia and has a population of around 26,000 (2024). Meiningen is the capital and the largest town of the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district. From 1680 to 1918, Meiningen was the capital of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen and from 1918 to 1920 of the Free State of Saxe-Meiningen.

Meiningen is considered the cultural, judicial and financial centre of southern Thuringia and thus hosts the state theatre, justice center, state archives, bank buildings and many museums. It is economically reliant on mechanical engineering, high-tech industry and tourism. The dialect and language of the inhabitants is East Franconian.