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Schleiz is situated at an altitude of 432 m in the Thuringian Vogtland region. The city has a population of about 9,000 (2005) and is the district town of the district Saale-Orla-Kreis.

The "Altstadt" (old town) was founded around 1200. The earliest written mentions are found in documents of 1232 (Slowicz), 1273 (Slowitz) and 1284 (Slewicz). The "Neustadt" (new town) was founded next to the old town on a regular gruond plan. The new was fortified and was protected by a castle. Both communities remained separate entities until 1482 when they were merged into one municipalty. Schleiz was the residence town of the counts (1806 princes) of Reuß-Schleiz until 1848. In that year, Reuß-Schleiz took over the principality of Reuß-Ebersdorf and Lobenstein, and the residence of the principality, now named Reuß Younger Line, was moved to Gera. In 1922 Schleiz became the administrative seat of the district of the same name. Lobenstein was separated from the district in 1952. The present district, Saale-Orla-Kreis, was created in 1994 by a merger of the former districts Schleiz, Lobenstein and Zeulenroda. The neighbouring communities of Langenbuch, Lössau and Oberböhmsdorf were incorporated into Schleiz in 1994, Möschlitz and Gräfenwarth followed in 1995 and 1996, respectively.

The residence castle of the princes of Reuß-Schleiz [left] was built in 1837 in place of the original castle, which had been mentioned first in 1367. The castle was destroyed in 1945. Most parts of the ruins were removed in 1950.