MEININGEN

city, Thuringia Land (state), Germany. It lies along the Werra River, between the Thringer Wald (forest) and the Rhn. First mentioned in 982 and chartered in 1344, it belonged to the bishops of Wrzburg (after 1008) and the counts of Henneberg (after 1542) before it passed in 1583 to Saxony. It was the capital of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen from 1680 to 1919. A major fire in 1874 spared the ducal castle (150911), containing art, coin, and historical collections. In the late 19th century the town was noted for its dramatic academy and stock-company theatre and for its orchestra, conducted (188085) by Hans von Blow and (191114) by Max Reger. The town has railway repair shops and some metal, paper, and textile production. Pop. (1990 est.) 25,474.