Awake your curiosity - Erfurt
Merchants' Bridge, cathedral, Old Synagogue - Erfurt, Thuringia's capital city, has a wealth of cultural treasures. And a fantastic student flair.
A good mix for everyone who enjoys exploring and browsing around cities.
Tourists and locals dawdle through the lanes of the Old Quarter, where history and old stories whisper to you at every turn. Proud historic town houses create one of Europe's most beautiful old quarters, with at its centre the neo-Gothic town hall dating from the 1870s on Fish Market, St Severi's Church with its pointed towers and the mighty cathedral, first mentioned in records in 1117. On the latter's almost endless outside steps, young and old like to chill out in the evening sun, before ending the day in one of the cool pubs and bars (tip: Oma Lilo or Café Hilgenfeld), in the Wein-Destille on neighbouring Petersberg Hill or in one of the relaxed restaurants (tip: Mathilda or Ballenberger), where a fresh and modern cuisine is served in a friendly atmosphere.
Erfurt pulsates with life - come and join in. Driven by your curiosity...
Sauntering around Erfurt
Thuringia's capital is, of course, famous for the Merchants' Bridge, its cathedral and other historic highlights. But if you saunter around the city, you will find plenty more to see - quiet corners, lots of greenery and quaint shops run by friendly people.
When you walk through the archway of the Ägidien Church on Wenigemarkt, the sound level drops abruptly and the noise of everyday life is suddenly forgotten. Climb to the top of the tower and admire Erfurt in all its glory. A fine network of lanes and alleyways runs through the city's sea of houses, which sometimes looks like nothing more than just a small village.
Directly beneath you is the Merchant's Bridge where small shops beckon. You can sit with a coffee and your feet on the cobbles and watch the world go by.
Merchants' Bridge Stories
The Merchants' Bridge owes its name to the merchants who sold their wares to travellers along the Via Regia, the trade route running from east to west. At that time, their wares were small items of value, such as spices, precious metals and dyes. Today, the Bridge is a jewel without any fashion chain stores or dull souvenir shops and is proud of its exceptional business schemes, arts and crafts and creative ideas.
Street melody of the Long Bridge
Walking on a few hundred metres further, you will find yourself on another bridge, called the Long Bridge because it runs over two arms of the River Gera, namely the Bergstrom and the Walkstrom.
Here there is a fascinating mix of a variety of worlds. On the Long Bridge, you will find special independent shops too, which are not part of a chain - what a blessing! It is one of those typical Erfurt streets where you plan to just take a quick look and end up spending hours or all day there and sometimes the next one too.
Recharging your batteries
If you want a break after exploring the city and enjoying the events on offer, take a trip into a green paradise! Come and visit the egapark – a principal location of the Federal Garden Show in 2021. Here you can stroll along a flower bed which is 6,000 m² in length, savour the peace and quiet in the Japanese Rock and Water Garden or relax on one of the many lawns. You would like to see more flowers and greenery? You will find all the parks and gardens in Erfurt here.
And the Thuringians will not, of course, let you go home on an empty stomach. You will encounter the Thuringian classic, the bratwurst, at every turn. Thuringians eat it with mustard only, an unwritten law. You will soon learn the basics of bratwurst enjoyment.
In Thuringia, you can savour every type of dish, from traditional Thuringian cuisine to modern variations. Enjoy a meal at one of our TOP venues, where hospitality and regionality are of the greatest importance.
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