The regional capital of Thuringia, Erfurt is characterised by one of the most well preserved medieval city centres in Germany. It is a charming blend of wealthy townhouses and lovingly reconstructed half-timbered buildings, overlooked by the towering spires of St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Church of St. Severus. The Krämer Bridge is the only one of its kind in Europe—at 120 metres it is the longest inhabited bridge, complete with 32 houses. Quite close to the “Domberg” (cathedral hill) the only extensively preserved baroque fortress in Central Europe invites you to explore the maze of passageways in its underground mine. Originally built at the crossroads of important trade routes, Erfurt has a rich history and is renowned for its cathedral and university as well as its connections to Luther.
In its colourful past as the economic, spiritual, cultural and political centre of Thuringia, the city has always attracted famous personalities, especially those responsible for influencing the spirit of their times.
Among some of the world famous former visitors or erstwhile residents of Erfurt were: Martin Luther, Adam Ries, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich von Schiller, Wilhem von Humboldt, Johann Sebastian Bach, Czar Alexander I and Napoleon. Buildings that are reminders of these characters, such as the Augustinian Monastery, the third-oldest university building in Germany (1392) or the Imperial Hall, have been renovated to give visitors a respectful and very realistic image of the past.
A comprehensive programme of events throughout the year ranging from the Bach Weeks and the “cathedral steps” festival plays to the Martin’s Festival (traditionally on 10 November—an ecumenical celebration in honour of Martin Luther and Saint Martin of Tours, the patron saint of Erfurt), all of which add to the buzzing atmosphere of this up-and-coming provincial capital.
Allow yourself to be enchanted by the 1260 years of history that can still be experienced in all their glory in the city of Erfurt.
Martin’s Festival in front of
St. Mary’s Cathedral and
the Church of St. Severus
Krämer Bridge—the longest
inhabited bridge in Europe
House façade in the
University quarter