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Gotha

Gotha is a town in central Germany, located in the state of Thuringia. It is the capital of the district (Landkreis) of Gotha and lies in the western part of Thuringia, near the Thuringian Forest. The town has medieval origins and developed as a market settlement on historic trade routes.

In the 17th century Gotha became the seat of the dukes of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, a line of the

The duchy persisted through the 18th and 19th centuries, and after the German revolution of 1918–19 Gotha

Today Gotha's economy centers on public administration, services, education, and small industries, with tourism oriented toward

Gotha is historically linked to the ducal House of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg; its name is preserved in the European

Ernestine
branch
of
the
Wettin
dynasty.
The
residential
complex
Friedenstein
Palace,
begun
in
the
1640s,
served
as
the
ducal
residence
and
today
houses
a
large
museum
complex,
including
the
Ducal
Museum
and
the
Ekhof
Theatre,
among
the
oldest
theatres
in
Germany.
became
part
of
the
Free
State
of
Thuringia
within
the
Weimar
Republic.
In
the
postwar
period
it
developed
as
an
administrative
and
cultural
center
in
central
Germany.
its
historic
palace,
museums,
and
landscaped
grounds.
The
town
is
connected
by
regional
rail
and
road
to
Erfurt,
Coburg,
and
other
regional
centers.
royal
house
of
Saxe-Coburg
and
Gotha,
which
drew
its
origin
from
the
duchy.
The
city
continues
to
preserve
its
cultural
heritage
through
institutions,
festivals,
and
exhibitions.