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Erfurt

Tourist Information and Travel Guide

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ABOVE: Early morning on the Krämerbrücke, an historic stone bridge lined with shops and houses. INSET: Grain in a "beer hole" announces that fresh beer is available within.

photo Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia, which Martin Luther described as "in the center of the center" of Germany. It has a long history as a center of German religion and learning, with one of the oldest universities in Central Europe and a Catholic diocese that was founded in 742 AD.

Erfurt is a popular tourist destination with Germans and, increasingly, with English-speaking visitors for two reasons:

  • It has one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Germany, with patrician townhouses, half-timbered buildings, Europe's longest inhabited bridge, and enough churches to be called "The Rome of Thuringia."

  • It's an important stop on the Luther Trail from Eisenach to Wittenberg, with Lutheran landmarks such as the Augustinian Monastery and the Michaeliskirche. (Luther received his university education, became a monk, and entered the priesthood in Erfurt.)

Two girls by the KraemerbrueckeErfurt is an attractive, lively city where you can easily linger for several days before heading for larger cities such as Dresden or Berlin. It's also a bit cheaper than the more heavily touristed cities of Germany, with hotels and restaurants that offer solid middle-class comfort at moderate prices.

Next page: Erfurt history and background


In this article:
Erfurt, Germany
History and background
Martin Luther in Erfurt
Sightseeing
Where to stay
Restaurants, food
Transportation
Guidebooks, maps
Tourist information

More about Erfurt:
Erfurt photo gallery - 105 pictures with captions
Augustinerkloster - The monastery where Luther took his vows
Alte Synagogue - Old Synagogue
German Christmas Markets: Erfurt
Hotel am Kaiser

Related articles:
Luther Cities

About the author:

Durant Imboden photo.Durant Imboden is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European cities and transportation.

After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors (now including Germany for Visitors) in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The Washington Post.

For more information, see About Europe for Visitors, press clippings, and reader testimonials.