Growth, spectral and laser properties of Bi4Ge3O12 crystals doped with TR3+ (Dy3+, Ho3+, Tm3+, Er3+, or Yb3+) ions, are investigated. Absorption and luminescence spectra of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions are analysed and their crystal‐field splitting schemes according to energies up to 18400 cm−1 determined. Using the Judd‐Ofelt approach of electric‐dipole transitions, the integral absorption coefficients of Er3+ ions are analysed. The intensity parameter Ωt, transition probabilities from some excited states, and inter‐manifold luminescence branching ratios are calculated. Copyright © 1979 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA