“Axe in the coat of arms?” I ask you. This symbol reveals Rohda’s story. Rohda, a part of Erfurt, lies at the foot of Haarberg. It is a place with a history rooted in forest clearing.
Rohda got its name from this clearing. The name “Rohda” likely comes from “Rode” or “Rödichen.” These names mean a village of woodcutters. These woodcutters took what they needed from the vast surrounding forest. That’s why Rohda bears an axe in its coat of arms.
People have lived in the Rohda area for 6,500 years. They farmed and raised livestock. Proof comes from found pottery shards and tool fragments. A permanent settlement appeared later. It emerged in the 9th or 10th century.
The first documented mention of Rohda is from 1249. Rohda then changed hands and political affiliations many times. Count Hermann von Gleichen sold the County of Vieselbach in 1343 to the city of Erfurt. Rohda was part of this county.
Rohda’s time as part of Erfurt ended in 1815. Rohda and other villages became part of the Grand Duchy of Saxony-Weimar. This became part of Thuringia in 1920. Rohda became part of the city of Erfurt on July 1, 1994.
The church of St. Simon and Juda is over 250 years old. It was dedicated in 1755. The small Rohda community spent almost 40 years building its new church. The Rohda one-room schoolhouse was near the church. It closed in 1956. The building was renovated in 1996. It became a community center.
Rohda was renovated from 2000 to 2002. This village renewal project beautified Rohda. The Rohda Anger was redesigned. It had a linden tree over 70 years old.
Gasthof “Schloss Haarberg” is on Haarberg. This area belongs to Rohda.
Today, Rohda has about 300 residents. It covers an area of 3.6 square kilometers.
The village has an idyllic setting. It invites you to discover its history. You can explore the surroundings on foot. The Ortsteilverwaltung Rohda is available for questions. Contact them to make an appointment. You can reach them by email. The address is ortsteile@erfurt.de.
So, as you stand here in Rohda, remember the axe. Think of the clearing. This small village has a long story. Its people have shaped it over centuries. Rohda shows us how history lives on in quiet places.