The planetarium, built beside the botanical garden by the Zeiss firm, takes spectators on a journey through outer space to explore star systems and the movement of the planets.

Here, 500 years of the history of optics is traced through a major collection of optical instruments.

An exhibition on the town's history since its founding is displayed on all four floors of this fine building.

The old collegiate church of the Cistercians was profoundly remodelled in the Gothic style during the 15C. Note the canopied gateway on the south side.

Personal items belonging to the poet are on show in this house, where he lived between 1797 and 1802.

This and the Pulverturm (on the other side of the square) are all that remain of the 14C fortifications.

Goethe said that Jena provided him with the tranquillity vital to his literary creativity. The house he lived in when he came to the town contains various mementos of the poet.