Rudolstadt

Rudolstadt
Location of Rudolstadt within Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district
Rudolstadt
Rudolstadt
Coordinates: 50°43′1″N 11°19′39″E / 50.71694°N 11.32750°E / 50.71694; 11.32750
CountryGermany
StateThuringia
DistrictSaalfeld-Rudolstadt
Subdivisions12
Government
  Mayor (202430) Jörg Reichl
Area
  Total
135.17 km2 (52.19 sq mi)
Elevation
195 m (640 ft)
Population
 (2024-12-31)
  Total
24,852
  Density180/km2 (480/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
07407
Dialling codes03672
Vehicle registrationSLF, RU
Websitewww.rudolstadt.de

Rudolstadt is a town in the German federal state Thuringia, within the Thuringian Forest, to the southwest, and to Jena and Weimar to the north.

The former capital of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, the town is built along the River Saale inside a wide valley surrounded by woods. Rudolstadt was founded in 776 and has had municipal law since 1326. The town's landmark is the Castle Heidecksburg which is enthroned on a hill above the old town. The former municipality Remda-Teichel was merged into Rudolstadt in January 2019.

Rudolstadt was once well known because of the Anchor Stone Blocks of the Toy Company Richter and porcelain factories, beginning with the establishment of the Volkstedt porcelain manufacture in 1762.