Erfurt legends. Amazing city of Erfurt. Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Erfurt is the capital of the German state of Thuringen. It was an important trading town in the Middle Ages and has many beautiful old buildings and parks.

For me, the city is quite compact; it combines medieval architecture, modern buildings and cozy streets. At the same time, the population is not high, which gives the city a family atmosphere. According to local residents, this is a very nice city without any “pathos”. There is entertainment here for both lovers of atmospheric walks and lovers of night parties.

How to get there

Unfortunately, it is impossible to get directly from Russia to Erfurt unless you use motor transport. Airlines from Russia do not operate direct flights to Erfurt. You can try to take a passing train from Moscow to Erfurt, but this will cost a lot of money and take a long time. You can fly to, and from Berlin go to Erfurt by bus or train. Prices for air tickets Moscow-Berlin vary from 6,000 RUB to 10,000 RUB. In order to book a cheaper air ticket, it is also important to book a ticket in advance. Below is information on how to get to Erfurt from Berlin.

By plane

Berlin

By far the fastest and best option for getting to Erfurt is air flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Berlin.

There are several airlines operating direct flights, such as Aeroflot, S7, inexpensive flights can be found with Air Baltic, the flight schedule can be found

Many different search engines offer prices from 3,500 RUB, provided, of course, you are looking for tickets in advance. A good price for Economy class to Berlin from Moscow is considered to be 6,000 RUB; 10-12,000 RUB is considered expensive.

Erfurt

Erfurt also has an airport “Erfurt Weimar”, which operates flights to the nearest cities: , Frankfurt, etc. I personally don’t know direct flights from Berlin to Erfurt and search engines do not respond to direct flights, but this is not rational, because there are many land-based options. where you don’t spend a lot of money and time on the road. Below you will find complete information on how to get there by train or bus. The Bla-Bla Car app is also popular in Germany.

There are several airlines from Erfurt to holiday destinations around the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Flight options can be viewed on numerous search engine sites, or, for example,.

From airport to city

If you fly from other cities in Germany to Erfurt, then use tram number 4, which has a convenient route. It runs from the airport to the main railway station from 06.00 to 22.00 every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. The Flughafen Bindersleben stop is located opposite the passenger terminal. Time to the train station is about 25 minutes. Also near the airport you can rent a car, take a taxi or stay at the Airoport Hotel Erfurt.

By train

From Russia

Unfortunately, there is no direct connection to Erfurt from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but, for example, in the opposite direction from Erfurt and to Moscow you can get on the passing train 24B (East) - (Central) - (Belorussky). Travel time will be 28 hours 35 minutes.

There are two options for the train route from Moscow to Berlin.

Direction: (Belorussky Station) - (East). Departure Belorussky Station - Berlin Main. Travel time will be 24 hours. The price for this ticket is 9317 RUB per person, a LUX class carriage will cost you 38946 RUB.
There is also a direct connection to Berlin. Direction (Kursk) - (Ostbahnhof). Travel time is 22 hours 44 minutes. Distance 1890 km. The cost in a regular compartment is 12950 RUB.

From Berlin

Once you reach Berlin, you can easily take public transport to Erfurt. Below is information on how to get there by bus. You can get from Berlin Main Station to Erfurt in 2 hours, ticket price is approximately 70 EUR. Of course, trains in Germany are expensive, but they are very fast and comfortable.

Erfurt train station

Erfurt Hauptbahnhof - the main train station - is quite large. Numerous ICE and IC trains run daily direct routes to Berlin, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden and Frankfurt.

By bus

What are the prices for holidays?

Prices depend on how long you stay and depending on your preferences. For example:

You can choose hotels from 50 EUR per night or 150 EUR. It all depends on your wishes or preferences. You can also use Couchsurfing. I stayed with relatives in Erfurt, so I had no living expenses.
Excursions cost from 7 to 15 EUR. There are various discounts for students and pensioners. You must have with you a document proving that you are a citizen of this category.
For public transport - 2 EUR, a taxi will cost 10-11 EUR for a 10-minute journey. But you can save money on this, the city is small, and walking around it is a pleasure. An important point: public transport also runs at night, but less frequently.
The average bill in a good restaurant for two will cost 60 EUR, but on average, to have lunch or dinner in a good cafe, you will have to pay from 15 to 30 EUR per person. Don't forget that in Europe food portions are large. My mistake was that I ordered a lot of dishes and did not take into account their serving size.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

Of course, the city of Erfurt is medieval. That’s why the attractions here have unusual temples, castles, and the tiles are made of unusual small bricks. The architecture is fascinating and attunes to the spirituality of ancient Germany.

Regardless of whether you like to take excursions or not, just one walk will leave you with pleasant impressions and cool photos. I don't like taking excursions and being tied to a tour group and time. I prefer to study everything on my own, slowly. But if you are limited in time and perceive more by ear, then you can take a tour by purchasing a ticket like everywhere else at the box office, but entry to many places is free.

Below I will give the top 5 places that, in my opinion, are the most interesting places, but perhaps in this city you can make your own personal top list.

Top 5

BERND DAS BROD

You should definitely take a selfie with the popular cartoon character Bernd das Brot. It is located in the very center near the German city government. This gloomy-cute character will definitely not stay away from your attention and you will notice him immediately; it is absolutely impossible to pass by without noticing.

Bridge with houses "Krämerbrücke" or the Shopkeepers' house

The bridge is one of the main attractions. There are very few such structures in Europe. This bridge serves as a crossing over the Gera River and is home to more than 30 merchant houses. But local residents do not buy anything from these houses, since the prices for goods here are expensive.

Erfurt Cathedral and Domplatz

It is located in the center of the old town on Domplatz Square. This cathedral is a must visit. The cathedral embodies German architecture and Gothic style. It is the main part of the spiritual and cultural life of the population.

That is why, in order to feel all the grace and grandeur of ancient Germany, you need to visit the cathedrals and, if possible, attend one of the church services that are held on weekends. Everything on the square is done in a medieval style and at the same time very clean and cozy. The walk along Domplatz is also ideal for cycling and rollerblading. This is what you should definitely go to Erfurt for and feel the whole spirit of ancient, and at the same time graceful, Germany.

Zetadelle Petersberg (Petersburg)

Next to the cathedral square is the Petersberg fortress. There is also an observation deck here that offers a panoramic view of the city of Erfurt. There are also many lawns around the fortress and square where you can have a small picnic overlooking the city.

Yuri-Gagarin-Ring street or Yuri Gagarin ring

The street is named, as everyone has already guessed, in honor of the first cosmonaut. It has a rounded shape and is the longest in the city. This is where I lived.

There is a monument to Yuri Gagarin on the street and a monument to Martin Luther nearby.

A busy street with modern housing, shops and beautiful vegetation in spring and summer.

The photo shows a view from the window of a residential building on Gagarin Ring.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

In addition to the main Erfurt Cathedral, the city also has Catholic and Protestant churches.

Prediger Church Previously it was a monastic church of the Dominican monastery. After the Reformation it became Protestant. Reconstructed in Baroque style. The church is also famous for the fact that the organ located inside was the most expensive and largest in 1650. I think that this church combines deep spirituality, beautiful style and good sounding music.

Walking around the city, you can find many interesting German churches. The main ones are the Reformed Protestant churches, which arose after Martin Luther. It was he who translated the Bible into German and upended the standard Catholic approach to church service. In Erfurt, these two largest movements of Christianity, Catholicism and Protestantism, harmonize and even complement each other both in the architecture and in the atmosphere of the medieval culture of the city.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Museum location: Michaelistraße 34 99084 Erfurt (next to Altstadt)

Angermuseum - ErfurtArtMuseum

The museum is made in the Baroque style and has a unique long main hall. It houses various art collections. The organizers host various events, including in the atmospheric courtyard.

Location next to the Anger cemetery at the train station and town hall.

Parks

Egapark is the largest and most famous garden and park complex in the city. Open all year round, but the best visit is from spring to autumn. Various botanical exhibitions are held, and there are beautiful fountains on the territory. Lovers of nature and beautiful plants will find rest and tranquility here. There are also interesting play activities for children. The complex features a huge number of flowers, more than 400 varieties of roses, wonderful orchid exhibitions and a large area for walking.

Tourist streets

Erfurt is famous for its amazing and unique streets, and what is most important: only pedestrians can walk along them. On your walk you will see immaculate old houses, parks (Stadtpark) and (Nordpark), as well as flower alleys with unusual plants. Local residents love to make their homes cozy, and shopkeepers and sellers know how to decorate their windows in the style of the architecture of their city.

Be sure to take a quiet stroll through the streets, and you can also find tourist shops that will offer guides for you to explore the city in more detail.

What to see in 1 day

In general, you can see the entire city in one day. When traveling and on vacation, I don’t like to wake up early, so here too I would recommend getting enough sleep and starting your trip at about 10–11 am with a delicious breakfast. Erfurt has many streets lined with delicious bakeries and cafes. Therefore, start your day slowly and be sure that you will have time to see everything, unless, of course, you like to look at every tile on the street for half an hour.

10:00 - Altstad (old town). In order to walk along the streets and see the square, a little less than an hour will be enough, then we head from point A to point B, this is already included during a walk through the old town, and we smoothly moved to Domplatz square
11:00 - Domplatz area here we also need about 1 hour. But if you want to get to services in the cathedrals that rise on this square, you will need a little more time.
12:00 - from Domplatz Square we reach the Petersberg Fortress on foot, since the location is nearby. We go look at the walls, enjoy the general view, but I would recommend returning to the observation deck when it gets dark. Buildings and structures in Erfurt are beautifully illuminated and give a different atmosphere.

13:30 - you can return to the Altstad territory and have lunch in a cafe that suits your taste. German traditional cuisine, European, Indian, vegetarian. All cafes, like bars, are nice and cozy.
14:30 - then we can take a taxi. They are at every step, we can take a tram or walk to the Kramenbruke bridge. One hour is enough to look around and walk around. But if your goal is shopping, then you need more time, it all depends on how much time you spend on shopping.
15:30 - Egapark gardening complex. The distance from Kramenbruke to Egapark is about 5 km. You can walk, but you will lose an extra 40 minutes, and it will take about 18 minutes by transport. But you need to spend at least an hour and a half in the park for sure, but to enjoy all the charm, you need to come here for a long time, since the park is very large and interesting, and time a walk from him flies by.
Then take public transport back to Alstad. Stroll along the Yuri-Gagarin-Ring street, then watch the city at night from the Petersberg observation deck. Evening Erfurt is no less fascinating than daytime, and you can end your one-day tour by strolling through the evening altstad, as well as strolling through the cozy bars located in this epicenter of the city.

What to see in the area

Nordhausen in Russia it would be considered a village, but it is no less a cozy town with beautiful buildings and stunning forest. The distance will be 102 km. You can get there from Erfurt Central Station for about 14 EUR.

We got here by train from Erfurt Haupthahnkof and our travel time was about 50 minutes, and along the way we admired the picturesque landscapes of Thuringia.

I would recommend going there in the spring, when beautiful trees and plants begin to bloom. I really liked this town because there is no fuss and beautiful nature. It's very calm here. Also located here is the Soviet Institute, created to study German missiles.

Also outside there are places such as:

Weinmar is only a quarter of an hour away. The small town is famous for its castles and the home of the Schiller Museum, and Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer, also lived here.
Jena is half an hour away. Here you can see the oldest botanical garden in Germany.
- about an hour's drive. Russians who live in Germany come here to visit the Russian Orthodox Church. It is also a city with an interesting history and good museums.
Take a walk through the nearby Thuringian Forest, which is why Thuringia is called the “green heart of Germany.”
about 45 minutes away, there's a lot to see. The largest city on earth is Saxony-Anhalt. Handel was born here and there are several castles in the city.

Food. What to try

There is a lot of variety in food here.

But the most traditional food is Erfurt or Thuringian sausages. This is another highlight of the city, for which many tourists come. You can try them at fairs and squares.

The city has many cafes with different food: Mexican, Italian, Turkish, German, French, Chinese and even Russian cuisine. If you're a vegetarian, you'll find the Kekoa restaurant in the heart of Altstadt, which is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.

The famous Thüringer Bratwurst sausage was born in Erfurt, and numerous stalls in the city sell this world-famous delicacy. Be sure to try it!

Trattoria la Grappa, Schuhgasse 8 (next to Fischmarkt and town hall). Here you will find wonderful Italian cuisine. Enjoy excellent food in one of Thuringia's best renowned Italian restaurants.
Tolle Knolle, Lange Brücke (Lange Bridge) 53 (next to Domplatz). Magnificent, rich potato casseroles, one of the German traditional dishes.

San Remo, Marktstrasse 21. Considered an excellent ice cream shop.
FAM(Feines am Markt), Am Fischmarkt 19 (to the left of the town hall, Fischmarkt). Good location, you can sit on the street and watch passers-by. The food is good here. Closed on Mondays!
Ubersee, Kürschnergasse 8 (next to Wenigemarkt). Nice cafe and bar, you can sit outside and look at the beautiful view of the Gera River. They offer something special every day - check the website!

SolyMar, Walkmühlstraße 13. Very cozy bar and room for cocktails, snacks and other drinks. Very cute Caribbean furniture in relaxing colors.
Elmi Krämerbrückencafe, Kreuzgasse 1. Nice outdoor cafe. Cafe, espresso, pastries and cakes, refreshing drinks, breakfast, snacks, lunches. Open from 7.00 to 18.00.

Budget

Ibra s Bistro Meienbergstrasse. Fast food of Arab countries.

Mid-level

Expensive

Holidays

Magdeburger Alle Fest

On the first Saturday in June, Erfurt hosts the Magdeburg Alley Festival. This holiday is opened by runners, and you can also take part in the race yourself. Both adults and children take part. You can also win prizes. The Magdeburg Allee is long, and in two places there is a stand with live music and concerts. Children are told fairy tales, drawing and crafts for different tastes.

Kramerbruckefest

Held on the third weekend in June. Festival in the old town area, from Friday to Saturday there is a market in medieval style. There are stands with live music throughout the area. delicious food and entertainment.

Safety. What to watch out for

Walking in Erfurt is safe both day and night. The only thing is that at night you may encounter drunk people, as in principle everywhere else. In general, during my two visits to this city there were no security incidents, there was no widespread fraud, since the police really carefully monitor the security of the city. Girls can safely walk around the city unaccompanied by men, and if they themselves don’t want adventure, nothing will happen.

Things to do

Garden lovers have plenty to do and check out Egapark, which is a huge and beautiful botanical garden accessible by Straßenbahn (tram). Find out about exhibitions or programs.

See the production at the newly restored Erfurt Theater.
Relax in Wenigemarkt or beyond Krämerbrücke by the river and admire the beautiful view of the old houses standing on the bridge.
Take a walk around Stadpark, which is located next to the main station, and look at the green part of the city.
Join a city tour organized by Tourist Information located on the Fischmarkt to better understand the city's long history in an entertaining way.

Shopping and shops

Shops on Kremenbrück offer unique handicrafts and souvenirs. Around the city center, along Enge Street, Bahnhofstraße and all the roads to Fischmarkt and Domplatz, along Schlösserstraße and Marktstraße you can find almost any store that pleases the European soul, from H&M and Mango to Zara, Esprit, C&A and many, many others!

There are also several shopping centers and other retail outlets throughout the city:

Enge 1(Anger 1), Mon-Sat, 10.00-20.00. Shopping center right in the city center. Its 4 floors sell clothing, electronics, groceries and more.
Thüringenpark, Nordhäuser Straße 73 t (trams no. 1 and no. 3 in the direction of Europaplatz). Mon-Sat, 10.00-20.00. The shopping center is approximately 20 minutes from the city center. They sell clothing, groceries, electronics, etc. A post office, pharmacy and Savings Bank (German Bank) are also located in the building. Special events are held during holidays or in connection with a specific theme (for example, fashion, sports, etc.)

TTC (Thuringian Trade Center), Hermsdorf street 4 (buses no. 51, 59 or 155 from the main station in the direction of Niedernizz). The shopping center is located 10 minutes from the city center. They sell groceries and electronics here. There are only a few clothing stores. Some stores open at different times, check website for details!

Helpful information: Most shops (except grocery stores) are only open until 20.00. On Sunday all stores and departments are closed! (Exception: They are open on some Sundays each year due to sales).

Bars. Where to go

There are many small bars in the center of Erfurt. When you're thinking about a good bar or bars to drink at, don't miss Michaelisstraße next to Fischmarkt, where there are many bars offering a wide variety of drinks and snacks. Of course, most of the cafes and restaurants listed in the "Recommended Places" section also serve alcoholic drinks and are open until late.

Clubs and nightlife

Hemmingway, Michaelisstraße 45.
If you are looking to go clubbing or dancing, there are also several clubs in Erfurt, most of which are open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Music Park, Willi-Brandt-Platz 1 (opposite the main station). Black, house and rock music. Every Tuesday: Ladies' World, free entry until midnight and you can drink for 6 euros. Every Friday: “Night of the Stars” with special drinks. On Saturdays - a variety of topics.

Club 1, Steigerstraße 18 (tram no. 5 in the direction of Steigerstraße). Black and house music. Various events and DJs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Castle of the Holy Angel or Castel Sant'Angelo (Engelsburg or E-Burg), Allerheiligenstraße 20/21 (between Fischmarkt and Domplatz). Various programs and events, regularly - Fightclub (various musical styles). More alternative and rock music.
Club Centrum, Anger 7 (city center). Minimal music, drum and bass, electronics, house, black. Various events on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Presseklub, Dalbergsweg 1 (near the city center). Cocktail lounges, salsa parties and 70s-80s pop music on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Cosmopolar is a good bar with inexpensive drinks. Very popular among locals.

Extreme Sports

In the city you can find various sports: golf, two large swimming pools, volleyball, etc.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Puffbohne is what the Erfurt people are called. These weirdos look like beans. The history of the origin of the city's inhabitants is connected with these beans. Therefore, these beans are a personalized souvenir from Erfurt. The cost of these cute creatures starts from 3 EUR

How to get around the city

The city center is quite compact, so the best way to explore the city is to walk.
For most of the day, trams run regularly throughout the city at intervals of about 10 minutes. They go less often in the evening.
Night buses run all night and will get you home after midnight. They can be found in the very heart of the city (Anger). They depart from the main station and run at intervals of 1–2 every hour.

Taxi. What features exist

The price of a taxi depends on the time, for example, for a 10-minute journey 10-11 EUR.

There are taxi stands, many of them and with signs indicating them. Payment in cash, there may be taxi services with payment by credit card, but we paid in cash.

Trams

Erfurt - holidays with children

First of all, I would call the city of Erfurt a place for a family holiday. For children there are many attractions and various performances. Of course, going here with a child is a great idea. On weekends, many establishments hold various themed events. There will be no difficulties with a child here, as the city is very nice and safe.

Cathedral of St. Mary's is Erfurt's oldest religious building, located on Domplatz in the heart of the old town. It is one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Germany. It was founded in the 8th century during the reign of Charlemagne. An old bell hangs in the cathedral tower, which is the largest medieval bell in the world.

Church of St. Severia is another pearl of German Gothic architecture, an ancient religious building from the 12th century. Located next to the cathedral, the Church of St. Severia forms almost a single architectural complex with it and is a symbol of Erfurt. It was founded as a monastery church.

The Kremerbrücke or shopkeepers' bridge is a unique ancient structure. The longest built bridge in Europe. It was built in the 15th century on the site of the old bridge over Gera. It has a length of 120 meters. Currently there are 32 houses on it.

Petersberg is a citadel that is one of the best preserved Baroque fortifications in Europe. Located on the site of the old Benedictine monastery. Petersberg is one of the most significant monuments of defense architecture.

The Old Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Europe, founded in 1100. It is interesting that to this day it has been preserved almost in its original form. There is a museum of Jewish culture with unique exhibitions here.

The Augustinian monastery is an ancient monastery complex of the 13th century, which belonged to the Augustinian church order. It was here that the famous church reformer Martin Luther took monastic vows. Now there is a Luther Museum and a hotel for pilgrims. In the chapel of St. Elizabeth, ancient manuscripts from the 14th century have been preserved.

The Town Hall is a neo-goic building on the Fish Market Square, built in the 19th century. The interior of the town hall is decorated with paintings from the life of the city and Martin Luther.

The university building is a medieval building of one of the oldest universities in Germany.

Egapark is one of the most interesting examples of landscape design in Central Germany and one of the largest parks in Erfurt.

Examples of sacred architecture in Erfurt

Reglerkirche is an early Gothic church built in the 13th - 14th century.

Lorenzkirche is a Catholic church located in the old town. It was founded in the 12th century. It acquired Gothic features after a fire in the 13th - 14th centuries.

The Allerheiligenkirche or All Saints Church is an ancient Gothic church from the 12th century with a high 53-meter spire.

Kaufmannskirche is a 14th century Gothic church.

Schottenkirche is an ancient church that combines Gothic and Baroque styles. Located on the site of an old monastery.

The real medieval city of Erfurt (German: Erfurt) is the capital of the former duchy. In ancient times, the trade routes of Europe and Germany crossed here, trade flourished and markets were located, and the development of the city was facilitated by the construction of the palace. Tourists are attracted here by narrow streets where houses stand touching the upper floors, churches from different eras and thoughtful bridges that span the river. The size of the old city can only be compared with Prague; Erfurt is so big and different.

Geographical location of Erfurt.

Erfurt is located in the center of Germany, on the Gera River (German Gera), is the capital of the federal state of Thuringia (German Thuringen) and the seat of the Catholic bishop. The city is located in a hollow, which is surrounded by low forested mountains.

Climate of Erfurt.

The city's climate is moderate, with an average annual temperature of 8 °C. The warmest months are July and August, at which time the thermometer reaches +23°C. The coldest month is February - minus 4°C. June sees the most rainfall in the city, but March is dry.

Historical background of Erfurt.

In ancient times, the region was home to settlements of Slavic and Germanic tribes. The first mention of the city dates back to 724, its name translated as “Erf Ford” across the river. Charlemagne placed trading warehouses here in 805, and then the Church of St. Mary was built in this place. Under the kings of the Saxon dynasty and the Carolingians, Erfurt was the seat of the palatine (count who ruled the palatinate, i.e. the palace).

In 1392, the third university in Germany opened here. Erfurt fell under Prussian rule in 1803, was later occupied by French troops, but then returned to Prussia. During the First World War, many citizens died here, and during the Second World War, the losses were several times higher. As a result of air raids, the architectural monument was destroyed. Since 1946, Erfurt became the administrative center of Thuringia, and in 1949 this land became part of the GDR.

Sights in Erfurt.

Erfurt can be called a city of bridges and churches. There are 142 bridges across the Gera River, its canals and tributaries, which is why the historical center is called little Venice. In the Middle Ages, goods were transported across the Lange Brücke and Lemansbrücke bridges, which played a very important role.

The most famous pedestrian bridge is the Krämerbrücke. This interesting and ancient architectural monument was originally made of wood (circa 1117). The stone bridge was built a little later - in 1325, it connects two squares in the historical center of the city, Benediktplatz and Wenigermarkt. On the spans of the bridge there were residential half-timbered houses where they sold sugar, saffron, pepper and other groceries. The upper floors were occupied by the merchants themselves. Currently, Kremerbrücke sells antiques, works of applied art, souvenirs and various funny little things.

The Augustinian monastery (German: Couvent des Augustins) was built in 1277 and has survived to this day. Martin Luther was a monk here, so this architectural monument is associated with his name. An exhibition is now open, which you can visit on a guided tour, also looking at Luther’s cell. The monastery library is considered the richest in Germany; it includes more than 60 thousand volumes, 13 thousand printed publications and manuscripts that appeared before 1850, including the works of Martin Luther himself.

The old synagogue (German: Alte Synagoge) has survived to this day in excellent condition. This is a valuable architectural monument telling about the life of the local Jewish community in the Middle Ages. The oldest parts of the building date back to 1904. A mid-13th century mikveh (water tank for ablution), ancient manuscripts and the largest Hebrew treasure were found here.

Petersberg Fortress (German: Zitadelle Petersberg) is located in the city center, built in the 17th century in the New Italian style. The well-preserved architectural monument was once a northern bastion that protected the electorate from Protestant raids. The fortress performed its direct function until 1871.

The untouched medieval center is famous for the temples of the Severikirche (German: St. Severikirche) and the Erfurt Cathedral, which stand side by side to form the symbol of the city. Church towers are visible from everywhere, and the open Domstufen staircase allows you to climb the Cathedral Hill. The aesthetics of the 15th century wooden pulpit, the beauty of the medieval stained glass windows and the filigree column above the font are amazing.

Not far from Cathedral Square is the Museum of Natural History, which is famous for its unique local history exhibition and interesting building layout. A spiral staircase leads through the exhibition, entwining a century-old oak tree.

Excursions from Erfurt.

Not far from Erfurt is one of the famous German castles - Wartburg (German: Wartburg). According to legend, you can see half of Germany from the watchtower. Here Martin Luther translated the Bible into German. All the buildings of the castle are perfectly preserved; in 1990 it was included in the UNESCO heritage list.

To the east of Erfurt, between the two mountains of Naumburg and Freiburg, there is a wonderful wine region on the Saale River, light white wine and many ancient castles attract many tourists to this place.

Places for entertainment and shopping in Erfurt.

On Cathedral Hill, on long rows of steps, concert performances are held in the warm season. Orchestras play here and interesting cultural events are organized. Erfurt hosts a rock music festival called the Highfield Festival in August.

Erfurt also has a market square, where the ancient houses of wealthy citizens and the town hall are located. In spring, the city hosts a pottery sale, and during floriculture and gardening days, Domplatz Square is transformed into a bright, blooming carpet. In autumn, fruits, vegetables, honey and other local products are sold on the streets of the city. Every year on November 10, whole processions of singing children walk around the city, and a market opens on Domplatz Square. This custom dates back to the Middle Ages; the day before began the celebration of St. Martin Luther's Day (November 11).

In the pre-Christmas time, the city begins to smell pleasantly of cinnamon, ginger and roasted almonds in sugar. All in the same square they exhibit figural groups that illustrate popular fairy tales, and a Christmas nativity scene, fairground delicacies, gingerbread houses, bright lights and play Christmas songs. This delightful and famous market is considered one of the best in Germany.

On Kremerbrücke Street you can buy souvenirs and unique handicrafts. Large shopping centers are located in the city center.

The world-famous Thuringer Bratwurst sausages were born in Erfurt; there are many kiosks in the city where you can try this delicious delicacy. German cuisine is served in the restaurant at Lange Brücke 53 called "Tolle Knolle" or in the "Erfurter Brauhaus" located in the city center. Haus Zur Pfauen has its own small brewery.

Conclusion.

The medieval city of Erfurt is very pleasant to stroll around on foot. Ancient facades and dizzying church spiers make you wander, lost in time. It’s worth staying here for a few days to have time to see all the sights of this cute town.

Erfurt: “Very charming and attractive”

Erfurt, the capital of the federal state of Thuringia, is a large city by European standards, with a population of about 200 thousand people.

The historical center of Erfurt is considered one of the best preserved in Germany, and this is true: the city is beautiful, interesting and diverse, walking around it is a real pleasure. And, of course, it’s best to start exploring the city from iconic places.

The symbol of Erfurt is the picturesque ensemble of the Cathedral and the Church of St. Severin, spectacularly placed on a low hill.

The cathedral was originally a Romanesque basilica, consecrated in 1253. In the mid-14th century, a 26-meter-high Gothic choir was added to the basilica.

At the same time, the central tower was erected.

Since the 15th century, a large “Gloriosa” bell hangs on this tower. Its diameter is about 2.5 meters, its height is also 2.5 meters, and it weighs 11.5 tons. This is one of the largest and most sonorous bells in Europe.

After the old Romanesque basilica collapsed in 1452, the entire cathedral was rebuilt in the Gothic style.

70 steps of the solemn “Graden” staircase lead to the cathedral.

The entrance to the cathedral is made in the form of a triangle with two portals decorated with sculpture.

On one portal are Mary and the 12 apostles.

On the second portal there are sculptures of wise and foolish maidens.

In the center is the figure of Michael the Archangel, who defeated, from our point of view, not a very serious opponent.

Inside, Erfurt Cathedral amazes with its grandeur and solemnity.

In the choir of the cathedral there are 12 eighteen-meter stained glass windows from the 15th century, which have no analogues in Germany.

Against their background, the Baroque altar of the late 17th century looks very impressive.

In general, the cathedral contains a lot of works of church and applied art from the 12th century to the present.

An outstanding work of Romanesque art is the bronze “Wolfram” candlestick, cast ca. 1160 The human-height lamp depicts the figure of a Jew holding candles in his raised hands.

Next to the cathedral is the Church of St. Severin / St-Severin-Kirche.

This Gothic five-nave church with three towers was built in 1280-1400.

The interiors of the church have not undergone any significant changes since construction.

The filigree stone 15-meter superstructure over the baptism site (1467) is very good.

In the side nave, since 1360, there has been a sarcophagus of St. Severin with the image of the martyr himself, his wife and his daughter.

In front of the cathedral and the Church of St. Severin lies the Cathedral Square / Domplatz.

This is one of the largest areas in Germany measuring 2 hectares.

In addition to the obelisk, the Minerva Fountain has stood on the square since the 18th century.

On the south side of Domplatz there is an elegant 16th century house “At the High Lily” / “Zur Hohen Lilie”, built in 1538.

On the eastern side of the square, another historical building remains – the woad storage shed / Waidspeicher.

Woad is a herbaceous plant that grows well in Thuringia, from which a blue dye was obtained. Woad from Erfurt was widely exported to European countries, bringing the treasury three tons of gold annually. This golden stream dried up when artificial indigo was invented in the late 19th century. But for many centuries, the production of woad was almost the main source of income in Erfurt, and sheds for storing raw materials abounded in city streets and squares. Now the old building on Domplatz, where woad was stored since the 13th century, has been converted into a theater.

The houses on the north side of the square were destroyed in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Instead, in 1904, an extended courthouse was erected.

By the way, behind the court there is a city prison.

And the impressive police headquarters building adjoins the prison grounds.

It’s very “convenient” - all punitive authorities are concentrated in almost one territory. However, the latter objects in no way relate to the main attractions of Erfurt, and therefore we will return to Cathedral Square again.

From Cathedral Square, the military fortress of Petersberg / Zitadelle Petersberg, located on the neighboring hill, is clearly visible.

The 17th-century fortress, with its many ravelins and bastions, is one of the best preserved in Germany.

A beautiful baroque portal leads inside the fortress.

All buildings on the territory of the fortress are well preserved.

Guardhouse building:

Powder warehouses:

It’s a pity that the huge barracks are in disrepair; they would make excellent museum premises.

In general, it’s worth going up to the fortress if only to admire the view of Erfurt from above.

Let's go down from the fortress again to Cathedral Square / Domplatz. The narrow street Marktstrasse / Market Street with colorful houses departs from it.

The main dominant feature of this street is the slender 53-meter tower of the All Saints Church / Allerheiligenkirche, built in the 14th-15th centuries.

Marktstrasse leads us to the central square of Erfurt – Fischmarkt / Fish Market.

In the center of the square in 1591, a sculpture of a Roman warrior was installed, which is mistakenly called Roland, whose figure in German cities symbolized the status of a free imperial city.

But Erfurt was never a free imperial city, so Roland could not be its symbol.

Behind the warrior figure stands the richly decorated Renaissance house "Zum Roten Ochsen" / "At the Red Bull", built in 1562.

Now the house houses an Art Gallery.

The entire opposite side of the square was occupied by the neo-Gothic Town Hall / Rathaus in the 1870s.

The interiors of the Town Hall are also stylized in Gothic style.

All the walls of the central staircase and corridors of all floors are covered with wall paintings, or rather “horror films”. Here you will find dead people, drowned people, dismembered bodies, and some kind of monsters.

In fact, all the plots are illustrated by local legends and traditions, but we would be careful not to tell such tales to children.

We perked up slightly only when we saw Ivan Tsarevich with Vasilisa the Beautiful.

But later it turned out that this was not Ivan or the prince at all, but some local margrave who kidnapped the Sultan’s daughter (or rather, the Sultan’s daughter, who fell in love with the margrave captured by the Sultan, achieved pardon).

Fortunately, everything ended well: they began to live and get along (of course, having received the “okay” from the Pope), and even gave birth to a beautiful daughter.

On the north side of the Fischmarkt square there is a very beautiful house "Zum Breiten Herd" / "At the wide slab".

The building was built in 1584.

The three-story house ends with a high pediment.

Between the first and second floors there is a frieze of five bas-reliefs, symbolizing the five human senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.

In 1892, an extension was built nearby.

The decor of the extension repeats the decor of the old house.

If you go around the Erfurt City Hall on the left, then literally in a minute you will find yourself in a small nice square.

Erfurt's exclusive landmark, the Krämerbrücke / Shopkeepers' Bridge, originates from this square. This is the only bridge located north of the Alps, built up with houses.

This is what the bridge looks like from the outside.

And this is a view of the bridge from the inside.

A wooden bridge across the Gera River stood on this site already in the 11th century. After numerous fires in 1325, the wooden bridge was replaced by a five-span stone bridge.

Initially, there were 64 houses on the bridge, but as the buildings were enlarged, their number was reduced to 32.

On both sides, the bridge-street was flanked by two 13th century churches.

Only one church, St. Egidia / Ägidienkirche, has survived to this day.

In front of the church there is another small cozy square, Wenige Markt / Petty Market.

In principle, a not very curious tourist can end his walk around the city here. But Erfurt is so good, and there is so much more to see, that it is simply a sin to limit yourself to only the main attractions.

Therefore, having finished exploring the main attractions of Erfurt, we invite you to look into the nooks and crannies of Erfurt.

The streets of Erfurt are colorful and full of surprises.

You can safely go wherever your eyes look, turn into any alley, and you will certainly find something interesting there.

The “Royal Route” from Germany to Novgorod once ran along the short street Futterstrasse.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the Ball House of the University of Erfurt was built here.

In 1808, a meeting between Alexander I and Napoleon took place in this building.

In the 20th century, the path for any kings to Russia was reliably covered...

The green house visible in the Futterstrasse alignment is located on another street - Johannesstrasse.

In the socialist GDR, this narrow, semi-provincial-looking street bore the name of Lenin.

The former Lenin Street, although narrow, is, by Erfurt standards, quite long. At its very beginning stands the Gothic Merchants' Church / Kaufmannkirche, built in the 13th century at the expense of Frisian merchants.

Luther preached his sermons in this church, and in 1668 Bach’s betrothal took place here.

On this street there is a very beautiful house “At the Dried Cod” / “Zum Stockfisch”.

The building now houses the Erfurt Museum.

Adjacent to it on the right is our little green acquaintance.

And on the left stands an impressive old half-timbered house.

This house has very interesting ventilation holes.

At the end of the street Johannesstrasse is flanked by a tall tower.

The tower remains from the Church of St. John / St. Johanneskirche from the 15th century, which gives the street its name.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the church was demolished, but the tower was left.

It must be said that such lonely towers are some kind of local tradition; you constantly come across them on the streets of the city.

The tower of St. Paul's Church / Pauliskirchturm (Predigerstrasse) remains from a 15th century church that was demolished after a fire in the early 18th century.

Built in the 14th century, the tower of St. Nicholas Church / Nikolaikirchturm (Augustinerstrasse) has stood for almost 300 years after the 11th century church belonging to the Teutonic Order was dismantled in 1744.

Behind the tower there is the Compound of the Teutonic Order / Comthurhof (Comthurgasse).

This is one of the oldest secular buildings in Erfurt, erected in 1290, although the Renaissance decoration of the facade appeared much later.

In front of the Metochion of the Teutonic Order there is a tiny square with picturesque houses.

One side of this mini-square also serves as a river embankment. For some reason, it seems that there are a lot of rivers in Erfurt. In fact, only one narrow and shallow river, the Gera, flows through the city center.

But the riverbed of the Hera either winds or branches into several branches, and therefore water becomes an integral part of the city landscape. And in small Erfurt, with only one river, there are about a hundred bridges and footbridges.

Once upon a time, there were many mills along the banks of the fast river, but only one has survived to this day, which now houses the “Old Mill” / “Alte Muhle” museum (Schlösser Strasse).

The Kirchgasse / Church Lane is very picturesque.

One side of the alley is formed by the front of old residential buildings, and along the opposite side stretches the stone wall of the Augustinian monastery / Augustinerkloster (Augustinerstrasse), of which the monk was a monk from 1505 to 1511. there was Martin Luther.

The monastery church was built in the 14th century.

Church stained glass windows with scenes from the life of St. Augustine and with floral ornaments are especially beautiful.

In general, many old churches have survived in Erfurt.

Not far from the station there is a 14th century Gothic basilica / Reglerkirche (Bahnhofstrasse).

The church of the former Dominican monastery / Predigerkirche (Predigerstrasse) is very interesting.

The church was completely rebuilt by 1380.

The length of the church hall is 75 meters.

The choir is separated from the main hall by a Gothic lettner.

The temple contains many valuable works of art from the 14th century.

We were lucky enough to hear the incredibly powerful and unusually beautiful sound of the large organ installed in the church.

By the way, in the churches of the eastern lands of Germany there are surprisingly many stunning organs, unique both in appearance and in the beauty of sound. Therefore, if the opportunity comes up to go to a concert, then you should take advantage of it.

But another Erfurt church was not so lucky. The church of the former Franciscan monastery / Barfüsserkirche (Barfüsserstrasse) was badly damaged in 1944.

The surviving altar part of the church now houses the Museum of Medieval Art.

In the thick of Erfurt's alleys stands the old synagogue / Alte Synagoge (Waagegasse).

The only decoration of the thick stone walls is a Gothic “rose”.

Not far from the synagogue on Michaelisstrasse stands the building of the University of Erfurt, founded in 1392 (the third in Germany).

Opposite it is the former university church of St. Michael / Michaeliskirche, built in the 14th-15th centuries.

On this street, among the numerous medieval buildings, the house “Zur Güldenen Krönbacker” / “At the Golden Court Baker” stands out - a Gothic building rebuilt in the 16th century according to Renaissance fashion.

It is worth looking into the courtyard of the house, into which an arch leads from the street.

Hidden in the rather spacious yard is an old, extensive shed for storing woad.

You won’t find luxurious, pompous ancient palaces in the alleys of Erfurt; mostly ordinary urban buildings appear before your eyes.

The only exception is the large, elegant palace of the Vicar of the Bishop of Mainz / Kurmainzisches Statthalterei (Regierungsstrasse), built at the beginning of the 18th century.

On the facade of the building, length standards have been preserved: the Prussian half-route of 1816 and one meter, or “staff”.

But, we repeat, there are few such impressive buildings in the alleys of old Erfurt; there is simply no room for them.

But the dense web of streets and alleys is full of pleasant surprises.

Even on ordinary houses there are a lot of bas-reliefs and high reliefs, bay windows and beautiful doors.

We were simply shocked by the magnificent bay window, more like a vase made of Saxon porcelain.

And this is the decor of the brackets on the same house.

I was very amused by the sign with the name of the street.

There is an inscription on it: “Transverse-Bell Lane / The so-called “Transverse-Dog Lane.” We couldn’t remember seeing such an official public street sign anywhere else!

We also did not understand the purpose of the small extension to the residential building.

Is this a gatekeeper's booth or, perhaps, a sales kiosk at the house?

Well, in fact, the good thing about the center of Erfurt is that you never know what awaits you around the next corner.

It cannot be argued that the historical center of Erfurt has been preserved in its original medieval form. No, the 20th and even the 21st century clearly appears in it. But, we must pay tribute to the local architects, most of the buildings are very tactfully integrated into the historical buildings, and even the small low-rise residential neighborhoods in the center do not hurt the eyes.

And the buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. in aesthetics and diversity they are not inferior to their predecessors.

For example, on this house our attention was drawn to an extremely unusual bay window.

But in order to get better acquainted with the Erfurt architecture of the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, it is worth leaving the city back streets and going to the main street of Erfurt - “Anger” / “Anger”.

This elegant, colorful street is often called the “architectural museum” of Erfurt.

The Old Market Street, which runs through the city, was for many centuries the largest woad market and bears evidence of those times.

True, it is not they that determine the appearance of Anger, but the solid buildings of banks and trading houses that filled the street at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Anger begins with a large square, one side of which is occupied, flanking the street, by a large department store that belonged to one of the Tietz brothers.

The building was built in 1908 (architected by brothers Albert and Ernst Gieße) and was called the “Roman Emperor Department Store”.

The only decoration of the strict, “no nonsense” façade is the figures of women above the main entrance.

On the right side of the square, a medieval monastery and a city mansion from the late 18th century have been preserved.

Alexander I lived in this mansion in 1808.

And on the opposite side of the square, instead of a large medieval city block in the 1880s. a huge building of the central post office grew.

The building, triangular in plan, faced with sandstone, clinker brick and terracotta, is topped with a turret.

The Anger also ends in a large square.

The high-rise buildings visible in the photograph are the courtyard facades of socialist new buildings located along Yuri Gagagrin Street / Juri-Gagarin-Ring and have no relation to Anger.

But the corner building on the left, built for the Germania trading house, is being completed by Anger.

But no matter where you start your walk along Anger, the main task is not to break your neck trying to embrace the immensity.

People, animals and vegetation replace each other in a continuous sequence.

One is afraid of missing something in this abundance.

For example, a dog looking down from a bay window may not be noticed because of the tree branches.

On the Bismarck house, as you might guess, there is a full-length figure of the Reich Chancellor himself.

Most of the facades are so distorted that “there is nowhere for an apple to fall.”

The decoration of the house “At the Giant’s” is very diverse.

There are mascarons for every taste.

And among the variety of faces lurked a bird that looked like a falcon.

The facade of this building turned into a continuous bas-relief.

But the bank building with its large forms is more reminiscent of “northern modernism”.

The Bartholomew's Tower / Bartholomäusturm, left over from a 15th century church, resonates well with it.

Yes, yes, this is another lonely tower from a long-defunct church. In 1979, a corillon of 60 bells was installed on this tower, which ring out their melody at certain times. Near the smooth walls of the tower you can catch your breath and rest your eyes.

You can take a breath and put your emotions in order in a small square on Anger.

A fountain with figures symbolizing industry, gardening and crafts was installed here in 1890.

We unanimously recognized house number 23 as the winner of the “Anger hit parade”.

The corner of the house, cut off on the upper floors, is decorated with a balcony.

The pediment is decorated with floral patterns.

Funny dragons frame the pediment on the sides.

The façade is stunning with its variety of decor.

But the most striking thing is the building's portal.

On this positive note we will end our walk along the main street of Erfurt. But let us add that in the block between Anger and the station you can find many more interesting buildings from the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, so that if you have time, an inquisitive traveler will find a lot of finds and discoveries.

Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia, a city with 1270 years of history. Thanks to its good location, at the crossroads of trade routes, it developed well in the Middle Ages. An important place in the economy was occupied by the export of a dye made from woad leaves for the production of blue dye - indigo. Due to economic prosperity, there was a constant struggle for the city between the archbishops of Mainz and local rulers. In 1352, Erfurt received the status of a free imperial city, and in 1430 it joined the Hanseatic Trade Union.

In 1392, the third oldest university in Germany was opened in Erfurt. From 1501 to 1505 The reformer and founder of the Lutheran Church, Martin Luther, studied here.

Erfurt has an interesting train station. Usually public transport passes near the station, or in the case of a tram or metro - underground. But here the station itself is raised above the road.

We moved around the city using these two maps, they were quite sufficient. The center is compact, and we only went outside of it to EGA Park.

You need to come here early in the morning, then the sun will illuminate the cathedrals from behind you. In the Middle Ages, the square was smaller, but due to fires, during the shelling of the city by Napoleon's troops in 1813, several rows of houses burned down. Those that now surround the square create a beautiful ancient ensemble.

Near the square, on the mountain, there is the Petersberg fortress, but it is worth going up there in the late afternoon, when the sun turns and illuminates the cathedrals and the square. A wide staircase leads to the cathedrals. The size of the main cathedral is amazing, especially since it consists of two huge halves. Its current appearance took shape in the 14th - 15th centuries. There is quite a large collection of various art objects inside.

Impressive stained glass windows (XV century).

Severikirche (Church of St. Severi) is smaller in size, but is still one of the most significant Gothic buildings in Germany. The most interesting thing here is the huge musical organ, the sarcophagus of St. Seviri (1365), and numerous tombstones on the floor. The bell located in the middle tower (1497) is the largest medieval church bell in the world.

From the cathedral square we go to the second main attraction of the city - the Kremerbrücke Bridge. Along the way we meet the Church of All Saints (1221 - end of the 14th century).

We go out to the Fish Market Square (Fischmarkt), it is small, but there are many beautiful buildings on it, as well as the city hall (1711 -1720).

Please note that there are small sculptures on the houses.

You can enter the Town Hall, there is free access. And inside there is a whole museum waiting for you.

There are small squares on both sides of the Kremerbrücke bridge. From the Town Hall side it is Benediktsplatz.

The bridge itself looks like an ordinary street from the inside. It is simply impossible to understand that this is a bridge.

Therefore, you need to look at it from the outside.

In general, the river around the bridge creates beautiful cityscapes, it’s worth a walk there. In some places, houses hang directly above the water.

On the other side of the bridge there is a very cozy Small Market Square. The bell tower of the Ägidienkirche church rises above it. There is an observation deck at the top (1.5 euros), but it is not open during church services.

If we continue moving forward, we reach Futterstrasse. There are several beautiful buildings on it and one particularly beautiful one at the intersection with Johannesstrase.

Here you can turn right and walk to the center of Anger.

Trams depart from here in all directions and we went to EGA Park on tram number 2. Entrance to the park is paid (6 euros). This is a landscape park, exhibition center and botanical garden in one. It was built on the territory around the old fortress of Kiriaksburg; the walls and buildings of the fortress are now organically integrated into the landscape of the park.

A huge playground and a small zoo were built for children.

One of the fort's towers has been converted into an observation deck, which offers excellent views of the park and Erfurt.

I really liked the unusual fountain in the park. It can be controlled.

We left the park through the lower exit leading to Goethe Square, and from there we rode back by tram. We got off at the beginning of Anger Street near the Hirschgarten (Deer Garden) square. On the square there is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city - the Chancellery. It became famous after the Erfurt Fürstencongress took place here in 1808. For two weeks at the end of September, Erfurt became the center of world politics. Napoleon Bonaparte organized a meeting here with Alexander I to conclude a Franco-Russian alliance. In addition to the two emperors, four kings (grand dukes) and two queens, 18 princes and princesses and many representatives of the European nobility arrived in the city.

On the other side of the square, by the way, there are high-rise buildings on Yuri Gagarin Street. The GDR past is everywhere here, nearby, for example, Gorky Street. Next we went for a walk along Anger Street. Despite the fact that this is the main street of the city, it is deserted, since most tourists walk in the old city. In previous centuries, wealthy people lived here and after them many beautiful buildings remained, which, fortunately, were not reconstructed during the GDR.

From Anger we took the tram to Cathedral Square. We were left with the climb to the Petersberg citadel (XVII century).

To gain strength, we ate Thuringian sausage (thuringen bratwurst). There is a place in the square near the tram stop where they sell them for 1 euro. Sausages are generally popular in Germany, but it is believed that the most delicious are in Thuringia. I don’t know why this is so, I don’t see the difference :)

The fortress welcomes tourists with a massive and well-preserved gate.

To estimate the height of the walls in this place, compare with the figures of people above.

The inside of the fortress is perfectly preserved. It is quite large; it will take at least an hour to walk around its perimeter.

The walls offer beautiful views of Cathedral Square and the city.

How to get there: There is an airport, but it’s small; tram number 4 runs from the airport to the center. The best way to get there is by train; to find the schedule, use

Erfurt is a city in central Germany, the administrative center of the federal state of Freistaat Thüringen (Thuringia). The first written mention of the settlement of Erphesfurt dates back to 742. The "Erf Ford" (across the Gera River) gave the name to the future city (similar to Frankfurt). Erfurt is a major educational center and the seat of the Catholic bishop. Unlike many other cities in Germany, Erfurt escaped major destruction during the last war.

After the war, Erfurt became part of East Germany. There are practically no migrants flooding Western European cities in Erfurt: they tend to settle in the economically more developed cities of the former West Germany. From this point of view, Erfurt can be called a truly German city, free of kebab shops and migrant shops.

A traveler who finds himself in Erfurt for the first time can be recommended to start exploring the city from Benediktplatz. The Tourist Information Center is located there. Here you can get a guide in Russian, a map of the city with attractions, and book an excursion. After this, the first attraction awaits tourists: after all, the information center is located a few steps from the entrance to Krämerbrücke.

Erfurt tourist information

Erfurt is generally a compact city that is easy to explore on foot. But you need to walk slowly: in the historical center almost every house, wall, door and window is originally decorated. If desired, the walking tour can be diluted with trips on nice city trams that fit well into the city environment. There are six tram routes running through the city center.

Erfurter Mariensdom – Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (on the left in the photo). The oldest building in the city began to be built in the second half of the 12th century. on what is now Cathedral Hill. At the end of the century, the wide main staircase Domstufen of 70 steps leading from Domplatz to it and Severikirche (on the right) was built. The towers of Erfurt Cathedral appeared a century after construction began. In the XIV century. The Romanesque building was expanded and reconstructed in the High Gothic style.

Erfurter Mariensdom

The architectural dominant of the cathedral is three elongated towers surrounded by pinnacles. In the middle, highest, tower there is a belfry. It still rings the largest medieval bell, the Gloriosa, famous for its purity of tone. Its diameter and height are 2.5 m each, and its weight is 11.5 tons.

The entrance to the cathedral at the top of the stairs is designed in the form of a triangle with two portals decorated with sculptures. On the left portal they depict Mary and the 12 apostles, and on the right they illustrate the Gospel parable about the wise and foolish virgins.

Inside the cathedral, the huge windows of the cathedral, covered with stained glass paintings from the 14th–15th centuries, attract attention. They form a single composition with a two-tiered main altar in the Baroque style, at the end of the 17th century. replacing the original Gothic. The top-tier painting depicts the Ascension of the Mother of God, and the lower one depicts the adoration of the Magi. On both sides of the paintings there are sculptures of the four evangelists and the apostles Peter and Paul.

Interior of the cathedral

Among the interior decorations, what stands out are the details preserved from the original Romanesque church. This is a Romanesque sculpture of the crowned Virgin Mary and Child, and a bronze candlestick in human size, dating from the 12th century. It is made in the form of a priest holding large candles in his raised hands.

The rows of oak seats in the choir, preserved from 1329, are of extraordinary artistic value. Their headboards are decorated with gospel scenes.

Address: Domstufen, 1. Opening hours: from 9:30 (on Sunday - from 13:30) to 17–18 hours. Directions: by tram No. 3, 4 and 6 to the Domplatz stop.

Severikirche is named after the 4th century Bishop of Ravenna. Severia (or North). In the 9th century. the Archbishop of Mainz transported his relics to the Benedictine monastery of Erfurt, located on the site of the current church. Similar to Erfurt Cathedral, the original Severikirche church was subjected to destruction in the 13th–14th centuries. reconstruction in the Gothic style. At the same time, a memorable stone sarcophagus with high reliefs depicting scenes from his life was built for the relics of the saint, his wife and daughter, and a statue of St. appeared on the central column of the main portal. North.

Sarcophagus of Saint Severus

The church suffered serious damage from a fire in the 15th century. During the subsequent restoration, new rooms appeared, and the towers acquired faceted, pointed domes. A belfry with five bells was placed in the tallest middle tower.

The interior decoration of the Severikirche is significantly inferior to the Cathedral. In addition to the sarcophagus, the 15th century font attracts attention. with a huge canopy 15 meters high, almost reaching the ceiling, and an alabaster relief from the same 15th century. on the south wall, depicting the Archangel Michael.

Erfurt is famous for the curious “residential” bridge Krämerbrücke over the Gera River. Along the "Shopkeepers' Bridge" in the 14th century. 62 buildings were built in which merchants lived and kept shops. Initially, churches were located at both ends of the 120-meter street-bridge. One of them is the Church of St. Aegidia has been preserved: a popular observation deck is equipped on its tower. The number of houses over the past centuries, as a result of fires and unification, has almost halved - to 32. But they still sell, only saffron and pepper have been replaced by crafts, antiques and souvenirs.

When entering Kremerbrücke from the Benediktplatz square, the bridge itself is not visible: it seems that in front of the tourist there is an ordinary medieval street. While walking along the bridge, this illusion is repeated several times.

Relatively recently, opposite the half-timbered houses on the bridge, a modern building made of glass and concrete was built, which stylistically does not fit into the overall ensemble.

The architect “avoided reprisals” from the indignant residents of neighboring houses only thanks to his resourcefulness. The windows of the new building actually reflect the opposite half-timbered houses, creating the illusion of them being on both sides of the street.
Another interesting touch: some buildings in Kremerbrücke retain names typical of the Middle Ages (at that time houses were not numbered), for example, “Angel and Christoph” or “At the Red Tower”.

Zitadelle Petersberg is located in the center of Erfurt, 200 meters from Domplatz. The city defensive structure was built in several stages. In the second half of the 17th century. bastions, ravelins and gates were erected. After some time, barracks were built for the garrison of neighboring Mainz, stationed in Erfurt. In the 18th century defensive ditches were deepened, a watchtower was erected and an additional powerful fence was built.

The next modernization of the citadel at the beginning of the 19th century. was already carried out by the authorities of Prussia, to which Erfurt had by that time passed. However, this did not prevent Napoleonic troops from entering Erfurt. A few years later, the French themselves took refuge in the citadel from the troops of Russia, Prussia and Austria. After a long siege, the French abandoned the city to Prussia. After this, gunpowder warehouses were built in the citadel and an artillery yard was equipped. By the middle of the 19th century. the need for a powerful defensive structure disappeared. Subsequently, the Wehrmacht troops were stationed in the citadel, then the GDR.

Currently, the former fortress is used as a tourist site. A pedestrian path was laid along the fortress wall. The entrance to its citadel territory is via a stone bridge through the gate of St. Peter, built in the 17th century. The facade of the gate, made in the Baroque style, is decorated with pilasters, cornices and sculpted heads of lions, and the coat of arms of the then Elector is depicted on the pediment. Of tourist interest are the 12th-century Peterskirche, the labyrinth of underground tunnels of the citadel and the observation deck on its tower.

Fortress wall

Church of St. Peter's on the territory remains from the Benedictine monastery, which existed on this site long before the citadel. The facade of Peterskirche has preserved an arched frieze, a relief with a crucifix from the 14th century, as well as, in fragments, Romanesque frescoes and geometric patterns. The church is now used as a space for periodic exhibitions.

Evangelisches Augustinerkloster, built in 1277, was a prominent religious center with a ecclesiastical college and a large library. The monastery is famous for the six-year (1505–11) stay of the main figure of the Reformation, Martin Luther, within its walls. Here he became a monk, and later a priest. The Reformation initiated by Martin Luther directly influenced the history of the monastery. From 1535 Augustinerkloster was transferred to the Evangelical Church, and in 1559 to the state. The premises of the monastery were successively used as a school, an orphanage, a public library, and a meeting hall. From the middle of the 19th century. the monastery became active again.

Since 1988, the monastery has combined the functions of a cultural ecumenical center, a Luther Memorial Museum and a pilgrimage hotel. In the chapel of St. Elizabeth, paintings from the 14th century have been preserved.

Address: Augustinerstraße, 10. Directions: by tram No. 1 and 5 to the stop “Augustinerkloster”.

The ancient Fischmarkt square is the main square in the city. It has long been the center of commercial and public life in Erfurt. Mostly in the square they sold fish, which gave it its name. Local aristocrats built their mansions on it, the most beautiful of which even received their own names. The following photo shows two such houses. The orange and white building on the left is called Zum Breiten Herd (“At the Spacious Hearth”), and the one on the right is Gildenhaus (Guild House), built much later in stylistic unity with the first.

The Zum Breiten Herd building, built at the end of the 16th century, is considered the most beautiful in the city. It impresses with its color scheme, beautiful stucco moldings and paintings, gilded winged lions on the pediment, graceful columns, and the top figure of a knight. The façade sculptures on the second floor appear to grow from the columns. The frescoes above the name of the house are allegorical paintings of the five human senses. They depict women with a mirror (vision), with a lute (hearing), with flowers (smell), with a glass (taste), with a bird (touch).

Haus zum Breiten Herd

Like many other German cities, Erfurt's town hall is one of its landmarks. The current Gothic Town Hall was built in the 19th century. architects Tiede and Sommer in stylistic harmony with the beautiful mansions of the Fischmarkt square. On the first floor of the building there is a columned hall, and on the second there is a ceremonial hall, painted with scenes from the history of Erfurt. Between the halls there is a wide staircase with large windows on the walls of the stairwell. These walls depict illustrations of Faust and Tannhäuser, as well as portraits of the city's nobility.

In front of the Town Hall, on a high pedestal, there is a figure resembling a Roman warrior in gilded armor. On a sculpture from the 16th century. depicts the patron saint of the city, St. Martin (and not the North German Ronald, as you can hear and even read) in battle armor. In the background on the left you can see another named house – Zum Roten Ochsen (“At the Red Bull”). If you look closely, above the entrance you can see an image of a dark red bull with golden horns. And this building now houses an art gallery.

Statue of St. Martina

Erfurt Gartenbauausstellung (EGA) or simply Egapark is a combination of a landscape park, an exhibition center and a botanical garden. It was built in 1920 in the southwestern part of the city on an area of 36 hectares around the old fortress of Kiriaksburg. Its preserved walls and buildings are now organically integrated into the park landscape. There are many thematic objects in the park - Houses of orchids, roses, tropics, herbs, butterflies, Japanese Water and Rock Gardens.

Exhibit of landscape art

The park contains the largest flower arrangement in Europe with an area of 6 km2 with one and a half thousand flowers. The park's children's playground with farm animals is the largest in Thuringia. The park's Landscape Design Museum presents an exhibition introducing visitors to various aspects of landscape art.

Address: Gothaer Straße 38. The park is open from 9–10 to 16–18. You need to pay 6 EUR for entry. Directions: tram number 2.

Among Erfurt's museums, one can highlight the Naturkundemuseum Erfurt, located near Domplatz. The originality of the Natural History Museum is manifested in the exhibition space, which combines the natural and the man-made in the truest sense of the word. Through all four floors of the building grows an oak tree 14 m high, which is three and a half centuries old. A spiral staircase is built around it, along which visitors climb.

The museum was created in 1922 by entomologist Otto Rapp to demonstrate the relationship of plants and animals in the environment. After his death in 1953, the museum did not have a zealous owner for some time. The rebirth of the museum dates back to 1995, in which it moved to the current tree building. In the current exhibition, in addition to 350 thousand insects, you can see 4.5 thousand specimens of amphibians, many reptiles, birds, mammals, minerals and fossils.

Address: Große Arche, 14. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, from 10 to 18 hours.

Conclusion

Erfurt creates a picture of the old pre-war Germany to a greater extent than other German cities. There are few attractions in Erfurt, but most of them are first class. Cathedral and Church of St. The Severas are spectacular even on foggy days, when they look like ancient sailing ships sailing on the sea. The architectural ensemble of Fischmarkt Square and Egapark are magnificent.