Tourist Attractions in Erfurt

Northeast of the Fischmarkt in Erfurt is the famous Krämerbrücke, on the old east-west trade route. First recorded in 1117, it spans the Gera at the old ford (now again visible). The bridge, with houses along both sides (originally there were 62), is one of the most interesting features of Erfurt (shops selling arts and crafts and antiques).

Southwest of Erfurt stands Schloss Molsdorf, one of the finest Roccoco buildings in Thuringia, built by Count von Gotter between 1736 and 1745. Thoroughly restored, it is now a museum. It is set in a beautiful park laid out in 1826.

Along Michaelisstrasse in Erfurt is Augustinerstrasse, with a well-known Augustinian monastery (founded 1277) and Augustinian church (1290-1350). The young Martin Luther became a monk here in 1505; his cell is shown to visitors. Among the surviving conventual buildings is the beautiful Comthureihof (1570-93).

The Barfüsserkirche in Barfüsserstrasse has the oldest stained glass in Erfurt (13th C.) and some fine monuments. It is now occupied by the Museum of Medieval Art. Organ recitals are given in the choir.

In Allerheiligenstrasse in Erfurt is the Engelsburg, which around 1511 was the meeting-place of a group of humanists led by Crotus Rubeanus and Ulrich von Hutten.

The Predigerkirche (Dominican) in Predigerstrasse is second only to the Cathedral and Erfurt's museums in its treasures of art.

Also in Predigerstrasse is the house "Zum Güldenen Heer" (No. 7), one of Erfurt's few Roccoco buildings.

Marktstrasse in Erfurt leads into the Fischmarkt, where the east-west and north-south trade routes intersected. In the center of the square is a figure of Roland (1591), the symbol of municipal authority. On the west side of the square is the house "Zum Roten Ochsen" (1562), on the north side the house "Zum Breiten Herd" - two richly decorated Renaissance buildings.

The Folk Museum, housed in the Directors' House of the old Hospital, has an interesting collection of material on the history of Erfurt.

The Brunnenkapelle on Fischersand in Erfurt is now the seminary chapel and oratory of the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy.

Danetzare is a folk dance and music festival that takes place every two years in the month of June.

Along the Johannesstrasse in Erfurt is the Kaufmannskirche, with a richly decorated interior by local Renaissance masters. The parents of Johann Sebastian Bach were married in this church.

On the near side of the Krämerbrücke in Erfurt is the Michaelisstrasse, lined with old burghers' houses. No. 39 was the old Erfurt University (1392-1816). The building is now occupied by the Wissenschaftliche Bibliothek (Library), with the world-famous Amploniana Collection (535 volumes containing 4,000 works in 15th C and earlier manuscripts).

Augustinerstrasse in Erfurt leads into Johannesstrasse, in the eastern part of which are numerous handsome old houses, including the richly decorated house "Zum Stockfisch" (Late Renaissance, 1607), now occupied by the Museum of Municipal History; the house "Zum Mohrenkopf" (1607), with fine half-timbering; the house "Zur Mühlhaue", with traces of Gothic work; and the high-gabled house "Zum Grünen Sittich und Gekrönten Hecht" (before 1600), also with fine half-timbering.

The Neuwerkskirche in Erfurt's Neuwerkstrasse has an unusually rich Baroque interior, with the Neuwerk Madonna.

The Reglerkirche in Bahnhofstrasse has the largest carved altar in Erfurt (1450-60).

In Schottenstrasse stands the Schottenkirche (originally founded by Iro-Scottish monks), one of Erfurt's few surviving Romanesque buildings and perhaps its oldest church (before 1150).

Near Hermann-Jahn-Strasse is the Lorenzkirche, with the earliest tombstones in Erfurt bearing inscriptions in German rather than Latin.

Opposite the Domberg in Erfurt rises the Petersberg (St Peter's Hill), once crowned by St Peter's Monastery (founded 1060; rebuilt 1103-47; burned down during the French bombardment of the citadel in 1813). The Peterskirche (St Peter's Church), a Romanesque aisled basilica, is one of the earliest buildings of the Hirsau school in Thuringia. There are also extensive remains of the old citadel on the Petersberg (1664-1707). From the top of the hill there is a fine view of Erfurt.

To the north of Erfurt, on the Roter Berg, is the Thuringian Zoo, with some 1,100 animals, including rare species of monkeys (black-and-white colobuses, John's langurs, Entellus langurs, Douc langurs).