A couple of years ago Lu and I visited Erfurt, an interesting capital and at the same time the largest city in the German state of Thuringia during a short camping road trip through this part of former East Germany. Charming streets and squares surrounded by typical multi-apartment houses built in the “Fachwerk” style, many cafes, restaurants, museums, churches, over 140 bridges over the river Gera and Flutgraben – although the city has changed and modernized in recent decades, the strong influence of the East is still noticeable. Together with the medieval architecture and rich 1200-year history of the city this makes a very unique atmosphere. Erfurt is also known for its monastery where Martin Luther, a German theologian and one of the most inspiring personalities in Christian history, became a monk in 1505. Not many international tourists come to this part of Germany, though, which is why I liked it even more and it was a truly authentic experience.
DOMPLATZ | the largest square in front of the cathedral
THE LARGEST SQUARE IN ERFURT, with almost four hectares, stretches in front of the CATHEDRAL and other historically and architecturally interesting buildings. It is also decorated with an ERTHAL-OBELISK from the 18th Century, a few statues and a fountain. On certain days, there is also a LARGER MARKET with hundreds of years of tradition, where you can buy vegetables, fruits and other home-made and home-grown products. DOMPLATZ square is also the main venue for the annual CHRISTMAS MARKETS every December.
ERFURTER DOM | Erfurt cathedral
Erfurt´s cathedral is the most recognizable, slightly elevated building, located on the central town square DOMPLATZ and is a wonderful example of GERMAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE, although the existence of the church itself can be traced long before the Gothic period. In one of the 3 TOWERS there hangs the LARGEST FREE MEDIEVAL BELL IN THE WORLD called GLORIOSA, further on we are also impressed by the 13-meter stained glass windows, the altar and other valuable works inside the cathedral.
KRÄMERBRÜCKE | the longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe
The most famous MEDIEVAL BRIDGE in the city of Erfurt is the MERCHANT´S BRIDGE, or KRÄMERBRÜCKE as it is called in German. The bridge is very special, as it is the LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY INHABITED BRIDGE IN EUROPE. It is basically divided into two parts – on both typical timber-frame houses were built and in between there is a narrow street. Under the bridge runs a small arm of the GERA RIVER, along which in the immediate vicinity of the bridge there are a whole bunch of cosy bars and restaurants, as well as green park areas for rest. There´s also a nice playground for the kids just around the corner.
The most unique and recognizable built structure of the city of Erfurt is standing here since 1325 and is one of the few inhabited bridges in Europe. On the eastern part of the bridge we find the ÄGIDIENKIRCHE church, from the top of which there is a beautiful view of the bridge and the city.
The facades of the houses on the bridge can also be seen from the other side, when standing on the bridge – the view is definitely more spectacular in the opposite direction, but still, here we can see the entrances to the houses, the back balconies and also visit one of the shops in the ground floors.
FISCHMARKT | one of the most fmaous squares with the City hall and other historical buildings
If you walk from the Krämerbrücke bridge to the Predigerkirche church through the pedestrian zone, you will cross one of the most famous squares in the city about halfway. As the name suggests, the FORMER FISH MARKET stood on this place, and the square is still a center of public events. Today, the TOWN HALL with a statue of a WARRIOR from the 16th century stands here too. In addition to the town hall, there are some other famous buildings on the square, such as the Haus “Zur Güldenen Krone”, the Haus “Zum Güldenen Löwen”, the Haus “Zur Halben Eisernen Tür” and the beautiful Haus “Zum Roten Ochsen” for example.
ZITADELLE PETERSBERG | some of the best reserved baroque buildings
If we walk a little further up the hill from the cathedral on Domplatz, we will soon reach ONE OF THE LARGEST AND BEST PRESERVED BAROQUE FORTRESSES IN EUROPE, from where there is also a beautiful view of the city below. In the PETERSBERG CITADEL complex, built in the 17th century, you can visit and see the tunnels, casemates, bastions and other rooms as part of a guided tour, and take a walk to the impressive Romanesque CHURCH OF ST. PETER´S, called St. Peterskirche in German.
AUGUSTINERKLOSTER | St. Avgustine monastery
The most famous monastery by far, with exceptional historical significance, as it is here that MARTIN LUTHER, the most famous German theologian and one of the most inspiring personalities in Christian history, BECAME A MONK in 1505 and spent several years of his life in the monastery. Today, the monastery, the chapel and the frescoes can be seen as part of a GUIDED TOUR.
CHURCHES, MONASTERIES AND SYNAGOGUES | religious buildings in Erfurt
There are as many as 25 CHURCHES in Erfurt, the most famous of which is the CATHEDRAL mentioned above already, and in addition to the latter, you can also see the following: ST. SEVERI KIRCHE, PREDIGERKIRCHE, AGIDIENKIRCHE, MICHAELISKIRCHE, REGELKIRCHE and others. The most important MONASTERY is certainly the AUGUSTINERKLOSTER, and in the Jewish quarter of the city we also find an important SYNAGOGUE built as early as 1100, in which only in 1998 an invaluable treasure of silver coins, gold and other valuables was discovered.
MUSEUMS | Angermuseum and others
There are also quite a few interesting museums in the city. The most famous is the ANGERMUSEUM, where in a luxurious building, a former house for packaging and weighing products from the 18th century, you can see an impressive COLLECTION OF WORKS OF ART from the Middle Ages to modern times. A special attraction of the museum is the collection of special glazed ceramic vessels, which is the largest of its kind in the world. OTHER MUSEUMS include the following: Erinnerungsort Topf & Söhne, Gedenk- Und Bildungsstätte, Erfurt City Museum, Kunsthalle Erfurt, Forum Konkrete Kunst Erfurt and others.
EGAPARK | one of the greatest and largest parks in Germany
EGAPARK is ONE OF THE LARGEST PARKS IN GERMANY and home to an impressive, LARGEST ORNAMENTAL FLOWER CARPET IN EUROPE, consisting of as many as 150,000 flowers, in addition to which we also find the LARGEST CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND in the state of Thuringia. Erfurt was therefore given the name “City of Flowers”, and the park is divided into several vegetation and thematic areas – the visit took us much more time than we thought, but it was worth every minute. You can easily spend the whole day here, especially in nice and warm Summer weather (also bring a swimsuit for goofing wround on the water playground). You will pay 5 € PARKING FEE and then another 8 € ENTRY FEE for adults.
Climb the highest tower in the park for the best views, there are also a number of different restaurants, a beehive, a butterfly house, a museum, a bunch of fountains and sculptures, a “Barfußpfad” path where you have to walk barefoot, various playgrounds, a greenhouse with orchids and cacti, a beautiful Japanese garden and a whole bunch of other attractions.
THÜRINGER BRATWURST | a local sausage speciality
To say that Germany is a paradise for anyone who likes to eat good sausages is probably not far from the truth, and the federal state of Thuringia also has its own version. THÜRINGER BRATWURST is a very special, PROTECTED SAUSAGE, with a centuries-old tradition. It was first mentioned in the early 15th Century, and the first recipe from the 17th Century has been preserved until today. The traditional preparation of this sausage is grilling on a BBQ, which is previously rubbed with a piece of bacon, pork / beef sausages are sprinkled with drops of beer during roasting and served in a white mustard bun in the end.
So if you are ever in the vicinity of Leipzig, Nuremberg, Dresden, even Frankfurt or Hanover, remember Erfurt, as it is an interesting stop. Of course, the state of Thuringia offers a lot of other interesting spots and things to see and do. I love it especially because it is less touristy and less known to the masses. If you´re keen to read more about Thuringia, you can also read a travelogue from our 4-day road trip by clicking the button below.
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