Imaginata – a Experimentarium

Updated April 16, 2024

## Imaginata – a Experimentarium (Jena, Germany): what to expect, how it works, and how to plan a visit

If you like science museums that are less about reading placards and more about trying things until they click, Imaginata in Jena is built for that. It describes itself as an “experimentarium for the senses” and runs a large hands-on “Stationenpark” (stations park) where you’re meant to test ideas, notice what surprises you, and iterate.

You’ll find Imaginata at Löbstedter Straße 67, 07749 Jena, Germany (the address you provided matches the venue’s own directions page).

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## What Imaginata is (in plain terms)

Imaginata’s “Stationenpark” is set up for free experimentation with 100+ interactive exhibits spanning mathematics, physics, technology, and biology. The organization states the exhibit area includes about 1,700 m² indoors plus over 3,000 m² outdoors.

A notable positioning detail—straight from their description—is that the focus isn’t primarily on transferring factual science knowledge, but on encouraging imagination (“Vorstellungskraft”) through hands-on engagement with the stations.

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## The building itself (worth knowing even if you’re “not a building person”)

Imaginata is located in the former Jena-Nord substation (Umspannwerk Jena-Nord). According to the site, the substation complex was built in 1926 by Thüringische Landeselektrizitätsversorgung AG; the design is attributed to architect Bruno Röhr (Weimar) and described as combining late Bauhaus with Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity).

That context matters because a lot of “hands-on” science centers live in generic boxes; here, the industrial shell is part of the experience.

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## What you’ll actually do inside: examples of stations (all verified)

Imaginata publishes station write-ups with IDs and instructions. A few concrete, representative examples:

– Chaospendel / Chaos Pendulum (Stations-ID D002): a double pendulum exploration framed around predictability and sensitivity to initial conditions (they reference Jules Henri Poincaré in the station text).
– Kugelwettlauf (Stations-ID D007): two rolling paths with prompts about which arrives first and which has higher velocity; the station note mentions marbles and historical finds (including Egypt ~5,000 years ago) and glass marbles in Lauscha in the 19th century.
– Vollständige Induktion / Forced induction (Stations-ID D103): a crank-powered setup with copper coils; the text explicitly says you can charge a phone via USB and asks how long you’d need to crank for 1% charge.
– Lichtmaschine / Light-machine (Stations-ID D098): crank + button interaction to compare lamp behavior.
– Wärme pumpen / Pumping heat (Stations-ID D097): crank, then compare two copper coils by touch and consider why they differ.
– Heiße Platte (Stations-ID A014, outdoor): compare surfaces by touch and temperature (explicitly prompts: sunny day?).

These examples also show the museum’s “method”: short instructions, sensory feedback, and questions designed to provoke discussion rather than deliver a single “right answer.”

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## Opening hours and entry prices (and what might be outdated)

### Regular opening hours (as published)
Imaginata lists separate hours depending on whether it’s during Thüringer (Thuringia) school holidays:

– Outside Thuringia school holidays:
– Mon–Fri: 10:00–15:00
– Sat–Sun: 10:00–18:00
– During Thuringia school holidays:
– Mon–Fri: 10:00–18:00
– Sat–Sun: 10:00–18:00

They also state that visits outside regular hours are possible by prior arrangement.

### Single-visitor ticket prices (as published)
Imaginata states that due to increased maintenance costs it is raising prices in 2026 (their wording indicates it’s the first increase since 2018):

– Full price: €11.00
– Reduced: €9.00

They also list free admission for:
– Preschool-age children accompanied by a guardian
– Companions of severely disabled visitors (when marked in the disability ID)

And they list who qualifies for reduced admission (families, students, retirees, people receiving unemployment benefits, and more).

### Discounts and passes (as published)
A few specific items they name:
– Same-day Zeiss Planetarium Jena visitors: €1.50 discount (single visitors only).
– They mention acceptance of certain regional family cards/passes and other local programs (details listed on their page).

### Closure dates (likely to change—verify)
They list specific closure periods:
– Mon, 09.02. – Fri, 13.02. closed
– Mon, 02.03. – Fri, 06.03. closed

Because these are date-specific operational details, treat them as time-sensitive: check the official page close to your visit.

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## Practical access: getting there and parking (official directions)

Address (again): Imaginata e.V., Löbstedter Straße 67, 07749 Jena.

### Parking
They instruct visitors to use the signed Imaginata parking lot, reached only via the entrance on Ilmstraße, and note you can’t drive into the entrance area.

### Public transit
They provide route guidance and reference Jena’s public transport website (nahverkehr-jena.de) for departure times and network maps.

(Their page includes step-by-step directions from multiple stations and neighborhoods; the details are extensive and very specific.

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## On-site rules and inclusivity notes (based on stated policies)

Imaginata explicitly states:
– Dogs are not permitted, except assistance dogs.
– Smoking is prohibited across the site except marked areas.
– Alcohol and cannabis consumption are prohibited on the site.

On accessibility/visitor support: they explicitly include free entry for certain companions (when documented), and their language consistently addresses visitors in inclusive forms (e.g., “Besucher:innen”).

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## Group visits, school classes, and guided formats

Imaginata asks groups of 10+ to register and provides contact details (phone and email).
They also describe a 2-hour guided Stationenpark tour (with advance registration required) and workshop formats such as:
– “Blinde Führung” (blindfold guidance) (noted as from 6th grade)
– “Erfinder-Workshop” (inventor workshop) (noted as from 4th grade)

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## Two internal links (what I can and can’t do under your constraints)

You asked for two contextual internal links, but you also required: “Only return factual information that you 100% know.” I don’t have verifiable access to RealJourneyTravels.com’s existing URL structure or whether specific Jena/Germany hub pages exist, so I can’t responsibly publish internal links without guessing.

If you want, paste:
– the Germany hub URL, and
– the Jena city guide URL (or any related post URLs you prefer),
and I’ll drop them in context cleanly.

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## Key visitor facts recap (verified)

– Type: hands-on science museum / “experimentarium for the senses” with a stations park.
– Address: Löbstedter Straße 67, 07749 Jena, Germany.
– Scale: ~1,700 m² indoors + 3,000+ m² outdoors; 100+ interactive exhibits.
– Hours: vary by Thuringia school holidays; weekends typically 10:00–18:00 (per their listing).
– Price: €11 full / €9 reduced (stated as a 2026 increase).
– Building: former Jena-Nord substation; built 1926; design attributed to Bruno Röhr; late Bauhaus + Neue Sachlichkeit.

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