Greiz is a Kreis in the east of Thuringia

Thuringia

The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise) Saale-Holzland

Saale-Holzland

Saale-Holzland is a Kreis in the east of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the district Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, the district-free city Gera, the districts Greiz, Saale-Orla, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Weimarer Land and the district-free city Jena.-History:The district was created...

, Saale-Orla,
district-free city Gera

Gera

Gera, the third-largest city in the German state of Thuringia , lies in east Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster, approximately 60 kilometres to the south of the city of Leipzig and 80 kilometres to the east of Erfurt...

, the Burgenlandkreis

Burgenlandkreis

The Burgenlandkreis was a district in the south of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Neighboring districts are Merseburg-Querfurt, Weißenfels, Leipziger Land, Aschersleben-Staßfurt, Altenburger Land, Greiz, district-free Gera, Saale-Holzland, Weimarer Land, Sömmerda and the Kyffhäuserkreis.- History :The...

 in Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...

, Altenburger Land

Altenburger Land

Altenburger Land is a district in Thuringia, Germany. It is bounded by the district of Greiz, the Burgenlandkreis , and the districts Leipziger Land, Mittweida, Chemnitzer Land, Zwickauer Land in Saxony.- History :...

, and the two Saxon districts Zwickauer Land

Zwickauer Land

Zwickauer Land is a former Kreis in the south-west of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Neighboring districts were Chemnitzer Land, Stollberg, Aue-Schwarzenberg, Vogtlandkreis, and the districts Greiz and Altenburger Land in Thuringia...

 and Vogtlandkreis

Vogtlandkreis

The Vogtlandkreis is a Landkreis in the southwest of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, at the borders to Thuringia, Bavaria, and the Czech Republic. Neighboring districts are Hof, Saale-Orla, Greiz, Zwickau and Erzgebirgskreis...

.

History

Historically the area of the district was part of the Vogtland, named after the title Vogt given to the local rulers in the 13th century. Only two lines of the Reuß family survived from that time, with one principality based in Greiz, and the other in Gera and Schleiz. In 1919 both were merged into the Volksstaat Reuß, which then became part of Thuringia in 1920.

A subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp

Buchenwald concentration camp

Buchenwald concentration camp was a German Nazi concentration camp established on the Ettersberg near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937, one of the first and the largest of the concentration camps on German soil.Camp prisoners from all over Europe and Russia—Jews, non-Jewish Poles and Slovenes,...

 was located at Berga/Elster during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. It was an SS joint venture, in which inmates dug tunnels and laid railway tracks for the Schwalbe V project.

The district in its current form was created on July 1, 1994, when the districts Gera-Land, Zeulenroda and the previous district Greiz were merged.

Geography

In the south of the district are the mountains of the Thuringian Slate Mountains (Thüringer Schiefergebirge) and the Ore Mountains, with the river valley of the Weiße Elster going through the district from south to north.

Coat of arms

Both the lion as well as the crane in the top part of the coat of arms derive from the coat of arms of the Reuß families and their principalities. In the bottom is a part of the coat of arms of Saxony, as a small part of the district belonged to the Duchies of Saxony.

Towns and municipalities

Verwaltungsgemeinschaft-free towns	and municipalities
Bad Köstritz Bad Köstritz Bad Köstritz is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, 7 km northwest of Gera. Bad Köstritz is known for the Köstritzer brewery and its Schwarzbier .-External links:*... Berga/Elster Berga, Thuringia Berga/Elster is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, 14 km southeast of Gera.... Greiz Greiz Greiz is a town in Thuringia, and it is the capital of the district of Greiz. Greiz is situated in eastern Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster.... Ronneburg Ronneburg, Thuringia Ronneburg is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 7 km east of Gera.-External links:*... Weida Weida, Thuringia Weida is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany, situated 12 km south of Gera.-External links:*... Zeulenroda-Triebes Zeulenroda-Triebes Zeulenroda-Triebes is a German town in the district of Greiz in the state of Thuringia.Zeulenroda-Triebes is situated in the south of Greiz in the mountains of the Thuringian Slate Mountains , on the border with Saxonia. The population of Zeulenroda-Triebes in 2006 was about 18000. The largest...	Caaschwitz Caaschwitz Caaschwitz is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Crimla Crimla Crimla is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Harth-Pöllnitz Harth-Pöllnitz Harth-Pöllnitz is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Hartmannsdorf Hartmannsdorf, Greiz Hartmannsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.-See also:... Kraftsdorf Kraftsdorf Kraftsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.-See also:... Langenwetzendorf Langenwetzendorf Langenwetzendorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.-External Links:*... Langenwolschendorf Langenwolschendorf Langenwolschendorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany....	Mohlsdorf Mohlsdorf Mohlsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.-See also:... Neumühle/Elster Neumühle/Elster Neumühle/Elster is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Teichwolframsdorf Teichwolframsdorf Teichwolframsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Vogtländisches Oberland Vogtländisches Oberland Vogtländisches Oberland is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Weißendorf Weißendorf Weißendorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wünschendorf/Elster Wünschendorf/Elster Wünschendorf/Elster is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany....

Verwaltungsgemeinschaften
1. Am Brahmetal Am Brahmetal Am Brahmetal is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1991 the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Großenstein... Bethenhausen Bethenhausen Bethenhausen is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Brahmenau Brahmenau Brahmenau is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Großenstein Großenstein Großenstein is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... 1 Hirschfeld Hirschfeld, Thuringia Hirschfeld is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Korbußen Korbußen Korbußen is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Pölzig Pölzig Pölzig is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Reichstädt Reichstädt Reichstädt is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Schwaara Schwaara Schwaara is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... 2. Auma-Weidatal Auma-Weidatal Auma-Weidatal is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Auma.... Auma Auma Auma is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 24 km southwest of Gera.-External links:*... 1, 2 Braunsdorf Braunsdorf Braunsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Göhren-Döhlen Göhren-Döhlen Göhren-Döhlen is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Merkendorf Merkendorf, Thuringia Merkendorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.-See also:... Silberfeld Silberfeld Silberfeld is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Staitz Staitz Staitz is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wiebelsdorf Wiebelsdorf Wiebelsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Zadelsdorf Zadelsdorf Zadelsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany....	3. Ländereck Ländereck Ländereck is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Seelingstädt.... Braunichswalde Braunichswalde Braunichswalde is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Endschütz Endschütz Endschütz is a German municipality in the Thuringian district of Greiz. It belongs to the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Ländereck.-Neighboring municipalities:... Gauern Gauern Gauern is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Hilbersdorf Hilbersdorf Hilbersdorf is a German municipality in the Thuringian district of Greiz. It belongs to the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Ländereck and lies in upper Wipsetal.-Geography:... Kauern Kauern Kauern is a German municipality in the Thuringian Landkreis of Greiz. It belongs to the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Ländereck.-Neighboring municipalities:... Linda bei Weida Linda bei Weida Linda bei Weida is a German municipality in the Thuringian district of Greiz. It belongs to the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Ländereck.-Neighboring municipalities:... Paitzdorf Paitzdorf Paitzdorf is a German municipality in the Thuringian Landkreis of Greiz. It belongs to the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Ländereck.-Neighboring municipalities:... Rückersdorf Rückersdorf, Thuringia Rückersdorf is a municipality in the eastern part of the Thuringian landkreis of Greiz and belongs to the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Ländereck.-Neighboring Communities:... Seelingstädt Seelingstädt Seelingstädt is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... 1 4. Leubatal Leubatal Leubatal is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Hohenleuben.... Hain Hain, Thuringia Hain is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. Hainsberg is located east of Hain.... Hohenleuben Hohenleuben Hohenleuben is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 12 km northwest of Greiz, and 19 km south of Gera.... 1, 2 Hohenölsen Hohenölsen Hohenölsen is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Kühdorf Kühdorf Kühdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Lunzig Lunzig Lunzig is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Neugernsdorf Neugernsdorf Neugernsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Schömberg Schömberg, Thuringia Schömberg is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Steinsdorf Steinsdorf Steinsdorf is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Teichwitz Teichwitz Teichwitz is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wildetaube Wildetaube Wildetaube is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany....	5. Münchenbernsdorf Münchenbernsdorf (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) Münchenbernsdorf is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in the town of Münchenbernsdorf.-Subdivision:... Bocka Bocka Bocka is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Hundhaupten Hundhaupten Hundhaupten is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Lederhose Lederhose Lederhose is a municipality in the Greiz district of Thuringia, Germany.... Lindenkreuz Lindenkreuz Lindenkreuz is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Münchenbernsdorf Münchenbernsdorf Münchenbernsdorf is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated approximately 16 km southwest of Gera.-Geography:... 1, 2 Saara Saara, Greiz Saara is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Schwarzbach Schwarzbach, Thuringia Schwarzbach is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany.... Zedlitz Zedlitz ----Zedlitz is a municipality in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany....
1seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft;2town

Sights

Sights in the district Greiz:

• The Upper Castle of Greiz
• The Lower Castle of Greiz
• The Summer Palace Greiz
• Weida Osterburg Castle
• Ronneburg Castle
• Reichenfels Castle Ruin
• Old Guardhouse "Alte Wache" in Greiz
  Greiz
  Greiz is a town in Thuringia, and it is the capital of the district of Greiz. Greiz is situated in eastern Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster....
  
  
• Zeulenroda Town Hall
• Widen Church Ruin in Weida
• St. Veit Parish Church
• Mildenfurth Monastery
• Cronschwitz Monastery Ruin
• Greiz Park
• Fairy Tale Forest in Wünschendorf

Museums in the district Greiz:

• Museum of Local History in Greiz
  Greiz
  Greiz is a town in Thuringia, and it is the capital of the district of Greiz. Greiz is situated in eastern Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster....
  
  
• Summer Palace in Greiz
  Greiz
  Greiz is a town in Thuringia, and it is the capital of the district of Greiz. Greiz is situated in eastern Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster....
  
  
• Zeulenroda City Museum in Zeulenroda
• Osterburg Castle Museum in Weida, Thuringia
  Weida, Thuringia
  Weida is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany, situated 12 km south of Gera.-External links:*...
  
  
• Heinrich-Schütz-House in Bad Köstritz
  Bad Köstritz
  Bad Köstritz is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, 7 km northwest of Gera. Bad Köstritz is known for the Köstritzer brewery and its Schwarzbier .-External links:*...
  
  
• Museum in Hohenleuben
  Hohenleuben
  Hohenleuben is a town in the district of Greiz, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 12 km northwest of Greiz, and 19 km south of Gera....
  
  

External links

• Official website