At this traditional inn, rubber boots are particularly welcome—not just because of its unusual name “Gummistiefel” but also due to special event days when guests wearing rubber boots are given a warm reception.
While rubber boots are typically associated with muddy fields or casual pub visits, in the Thuringian city of Gera, they are stylishly paired with formal attire at the restaurant, especially on Thursdays—”Rubber Boot Day.” The inn “Gummistiefel” is located inside the Victor’s Residenz-Hotel Gera on Berliner Straße. Although it never completely closed—hotel guests continued to enjoy Thuringian cuisine—locals lost sight of the unique pub after it was forced to shut down for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, on Sunday, March 23, 2025, a symbolic reopening will take place, offering insights into various aspects of the hospitality industry along with interactive activities.
The Origin of the Name “Gummistiefel”
Back in the day, a dormitory for single miners working at Wismut was built in Gera. After their shifts, the miners would return to their accommodation still dressed in their work gear, including their rubber boots. Because of this, the building was colloquially referred to as “Gummistiefel.” In 1977, the miners’ dormitory was converted into what was then the City Hotel Gera, and in 1993 it reopened as a four-star hotel, a status it retains to this day. To preserve the traditional name “Gummistiefel,” a beer tavern was established in 1996.
