Things to do in Erfurt
-
A
Krämerbrücke
The 18m-wide and 120m-long medieval Krämerbrücke is Europe's longest bridge with houses. It was originally constructed from wood but rebuilt in stone in 1325 and adorned with churches at each end. Today the only church building remaining is the deconsecrated Aegideuskirche remains, now part of the Sorat Hotel.
reviewed
-
B
Centrum
This club gets a young crowd for dance music, live bands and occasional film screenings.
reviewed
-
C
Dom
The Dom has origins as a simple chapel founded in 742 by St Boniface, but the Gothic pile you see today has the hallmarks of the 14th century. Check out the superb stained-glass windows (1370-1420) featuring biblical scenes; the Wolfram (1160), a bronze candelabrum in the shape of a man; the Gloriosa bell (1497); a Romanesque stucco Madonna; and the 14th-century choir stalls. The steps buttressing the cathedral make for a dramatic backdrop for the popular Domstufen-Festspiele, a classical music festival held every August.
reviewed
-
D
Alte Synagoge
The Alte Synagoge in Erfurt is one of the oldest Jewish houses of worship in Europe, with roots in the 12th century. After the pogrom of 1349, it was converted into a storehouse and, after later standing empty for decades, has now been restored as an exhibit space and museum. Since late 2009, a new exhibit documents the history of the building, although an even bigger draw is the treasure unearthed during recent excavations in Erfurt's Jewish quarter. It includes 600 pieces in all: rings, brooches, cutlery and, most famously, a super-rare golden Jewish marriage ring from the early 14th century.
reviewed
-
E
Augustinerkloster
It's Luther lore galore at the Augustinerkloster. This is where the reformer lived from 1505 to 1511, and where he was ordained as a monk and read his first mass. You're free to roam the grounds, visit the church, with its ethereal Gothic stained-glass windows, and attend the prayer services held by the resident Protestant sisters at 7am, noon and 6pm daily except Tuesday. Guided tours get you inside the monastery itself, including the cloister, a recreated Luther cell and an exhibit on the history of the Bible and Luther's life in Erfurt.
reviewed
-
Egapark
It's easy to spend hours amid the kaleidoscopic flower beds, romantic rose garden, Japanese rock garden and greenhouses of the rambling egapark, about 4km west of the city centre (take tram 2 from Anger). It's so huge that there's even a little trolley to whisk around the foot weary. Part of the park is the medieval Cyriaksburg citadel, now home to a horticultural museum. Climb to the top for fantastic views.
reviewed
-
F
Zitadelle Petersberg
One reason why Erfurt today has so many towers without churches attached, is that parts were demolished to erect the Zitadelle Petersberg, situated on a natural hill north of the Dom complex. The fortress has a fascinating series of subterranean tunnels within the walls, which can be viewed on a guided tour from the tourist office. The nearby Romanesque Peterskirche can be visited separately without a tour.
reviewed
-
G
Michaeliskirche
Erfurt's churches give an interesting insight into the city's history. The old university church Michaeliskirche boasts a magnificent organ (1652), made by local master Ludwig Compenius, and was a key gathering place of leading local dissidents during the final days of the GDR.
reviewed
-
H
Zum Goldenen Schwan
This authentic inn serves all the usual Thuringian classics, but, if you're up to mounting your own Survivor challenge, try something called Puffbohnenpfanne (fried broad beans with roast bacon), an Erfurt speciality. Excellent house brews washes everything down well.
reviewed
-
I
Zum Güldenen Rade
For the best potato dumplings in town, report to this gorgeous patrician town house that, centuries ago, housed a tobacco factory. Aside from the classic version with gravy, you can also order them with stuffings, such as spinach and salmon, or with black pudding and liver pâté.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Angermuseum
The Angermuseum has been undergoing restoration forever and we don't dare venture a guess at when it will again present its fine collections of medieval art, landscape paintings and Thuringian faience (glazed earthenware). 'Soon', say the tourist office folk.
reviewed
-
K
Erfurter Brauhaus
As well as tasty square meals, we found the ubiquitous Three Wise Men of German boutique brewing here: one pilsner, one wheat beer and one dark beer. The fourth, the Märzbier (a blended pilsner and dark beer), must be popular because it had run out on the day.
reviewed
-
L
Severikirche
The Severikirche is a five-aisled hall church (1280) that counts a stone Madonna (1345), a 15m-high baptismal font (1467), and the sarcophagus of St Severus among its most prized treasures.
reviewed
-
M
Engelsburg
Good times are pretty much guaranteed at this venerable venue, no matter whether you hunker down for beer and talk in the Steinhaus pub, report to the dance floor of the medieval cellar labyrinth or go highbrow at the upstairs Café DuckDich cultural forum.
reviewed
-
N
Lutherkeller
The Lutherkeller theme-eatery (downstairs from Alboth's Restaurant 0361 568 8207) is a different kettle of fish - straw on the floor, chirpy personnel and prices in German Thaler (one-to-one exchange rate, they say). Each to their own, both are excellent.
reviewed
-
O
Hemingway
Everything the macho scribe loved is here in abundance: cigar humidors with personal drawers, 148 types of rum, and 30 different daiquiri cocktails. The Africa Lounge has a local Bambi, though, not an elephant bagged beneath Kilimanjaro.
reviewed
-
P
Si Ju
This restaurant-lounge combo is a fashionable stop any time for diners and drinkers of all ages. Steals include the breakfast buffet for €6, the business lunch for €7.50 and the all-you-can-eat afternoon coffee and cake for €5.50.
reviewed
-
Q
Steinhaus
The ceiling beams may be ancient, but the crowd is intergenerational at this rambling gastro pub-cum-beer garden in the historic Engelsburg. Dips, baguettes, pasta and gratins should keep your tummy filled and your brain balanced.
reviewed
-
R
Mediterrana
Candles, Chianti and a table for two are the hallmarks of a romantic night out. If that and the riverside setting in an ancient mill don't make your date swoon, at least the delicious Italian food should ensure a fine evening.
reviewed
-
S
Weinstein LeBar
This is as unassuming a wine bar as wine bars should be: soft music, candlelight and as many as 50 wines by the glass, including some hard-to-get bottles from the nearby Saale-Unstrut Valley. A basic snack menu is available.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Rathaus
The neo-Gothic Rathaus was built in 1870-75, has a series of murals depicting scenes from Luther's life, as well as the Tannhäuser and Faust legends. On the 3rd floor is an extravagant festival hall.
reviewed
-
U
Haus Zur Pfauen
This jack-of-all-trades wears tradition on its sleeve - it's a restaurant, has its own microbrewery (a dark beer and a pilsner), its own pension (upstairs), and its own beer garden; it even does city tours.
reviewed
-
V
Altstadt Café
Chatty mothers, foot-weary sightseers and people catching up on their reading gather at this historic cafe in a 14th-century building. The terrace overlooking the Gera is an enchanting spot in fine weather.
reviewed
-
W
Dubliner
On weekends it seems everybody's popping by to knock back pints of Kilkenny or Guinness at this boisterous Irish thirst parlour (is there any other kind?). Whiskey's all the rage downstairs.
reviewed
-
X
Predigerkirche
Erfurt's churches give an interesting insight into the city's history. The Predigerkirche was completed in 1400, and has regular organ recitals in summer on its reconstructed baroque organ.
reviewed
