Erfurt

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Erfurt

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Erfurt: A Horticultural Hub

The capital of Thuringia and host of the second-largest East German trade fair, Erfurt is the core of agriculture, horticulture, microelectronics and logistics for Germany and central Europe.

Location:

Marked out at coordinates of 50°59’N and 11°2’E, Erfurt is located in the valley of the River Gera in the southern portion of the Thuringian Basin, a fertile region between the Thuringian Forest and the Harz Mountains, in the Free State of Thuringia, central Germany. The city lies 400 kilometers to the north of Munich, 300 kilometers to the southwest of Berlin, 250 kilometers to the north-east of Frankfurt, and 100 kilometers to the south of Leipzig.

Weather:

Erfurt City is characterized by an oceanic climate with warm and sometimes humid summers, followed by relatively cold winters. In July and August, the city faces an average high temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. The temperature drops to -3 degrees Celsius in January, though light snowfall may start occurring from December and last till February. July receives the maximum amount of rainfall on an average and experiences the most number of sunshine hours, making this month the best time to visit Erfurt, other than May.

History:

The town of Erfurt, dating from the Old and the New Stone Ages, was mentioned for the first time in 742 when St. Boniface informed Pope Zachary that he had established a diocese in an area called “Erphesfurt.”  An important trading center, woad cultivation made Erfurt wealthy during the Middle Ages. Independence was achieved in 1200, after which Erfurt joined the Hanseatic League in 1430 together with two other cities of Thuringia. However, the city’s economic importance began to decline gradually in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it lost its independence to the Electorate of Mainz in 1664. It became a part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1802 and of the First French Empire in 1806. In 1815, Erfurt became part of the Prussian Province of Saxony and remained so till 1944. The 1840s saw Erfurt being introduced to the Industrial Revolution with the building of the Thuringian Railway between Frankfurt and Berlin. Despite being bombed during World War II, Erfurt suffered minimum damage. In 1970, the heads of the government of East and West Germany met in Erfurt for the first time since Germany’s division. The city became Thuringia’s capital in 1990.

The City:

One of the medieval German towns to have remained intact till the present, Erfurt, besides being the capital of the state of Thuringia, is recognized as its largest city, covering a total area of 269.17 square kilometers and inhabited by around 210,118 people. It constitutes Thuringia’s central metropolitan region along with the adjacent cities of Jena and Weimar. The city also shelters migrants from foreign countries like Russia, Vietnam, Ukraine, Poland and Turkey, but they make up only 5.9% of the entire population. 14.8% of Erfurt’s citizens are members of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, while 6.8% are Catholics, the rest being either Jews or atheists.

The city of Erfurt is organized into 53 districts including Johannesvorstadt, Daberstedt, Hohenwinden, Rieth, and Herrenberg, with the district of the old town or Altstadt at the center.   Buildings, representing architectural styles dating from the 19th-century economic phase called “Gründerzeit,” surround the center with its narrow medieval alleys. The heart of the city features a combination of Neoclassical, medieval and Baroque designs of architecture. Some interesting buildings illustrating the Art Nouveau design can be noticed in the mill quarter, or Mühlenviertel, and around Hochheimer Straβe on the outskirts of the city. The Lutherkirche Church is constructed in Art Deco style, while both the Thüringenhalle and the Thuringian parliament building are specimens of Nazi architecture. A few other constructions represent the Stalinist GDR style of architecture as well as the modern one. Particularly along the River Gera, the town is dotted with green areas and spaces such as the Dendrological Garden, Kilianipark, and Hirschgarten.

Agriculture being one of its economic bases, you can catch a glimpse of strawberries, cherries, apples and other fruits being grown in Erfurt, along with grain and vegetables. On account of its horticultural heritage, Erfurt was described by Luther himself as being the dwelling place of citizens who were gardeners to the Holy Roman Empire. Industries like engine-building, food production and tourism display a significant growth rate in Erfurt. The city is also the host of “KiKa,” a popular children’s channel on public television. Prestigious institutions, such as the University of Applied Sciences and the Federal Labor Court of Germany, are situated in Erfurt. Other than having been the abode of distinguished persons such as Martin Luther, German philosopher Meister Eckhart, sociologist and political economist Max Weber, the German organist Johann Pachelbel, and the German pianist and composer Alexander Müller, Erfurt is an important economic and cultural center.

How to Get There:

To reach Erfurt, an InterCity Express takes 2 hours from Dresden and Frankfurt, 1 hour 30 minutes from Berlin, and 45 minutes from Leipzig. Or you can get aboard regional trains running to Erfurt from Weimar, Gotha, Jena, Nordhausen, Arnstadt, and other cities. In case you want to get there by car, you can use either the Bundesstraβe 4, which connects Erfurt to Nordhausen in the north, or the Bundesstraβe 7, linking Erfurt to Weimar in the east and Gotha in the west. Alternatively, the Bundesautobahn 4 from Frankfurt to Dresden passes through Erfurt. Tourists arriving by plane need to alight at the Erfurt-Weimar Airport, 3 kilometers to the west of the center of the city, and then take a tram to the main railway station.

Once you reach Erfurt, you can bike around the city on the designated trail of the Rennsteig Cycle Way. Erfurt has a more or less good transport network with regular tram or light rail services and buses, including night buses that operate all night. You can also explore the city on foot.

Why Visit?

The presence of several gardens and lush green parks make your visit to the “Garden City” enjoyable! You must have heard of Born Feikost, a well-known producer of Thuringian mustard!? Well, it has its headquarters in Erfurt! A famous brewery by the name of Braugold used to be based in Erfurt too!

Besides, you can sense the city of Erfurt buzzing with cheer and good humor on its festival days! During the Castle Steps Theater Festival, for instance, you can watch festival plays being staged by performers from all genres on the castle steps between the Church of St. Severus and the Cathedral of St. Mary. Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca” is presented as one of the finest and on one of the most beautiful stages in the world from 11th to 28th August in 2016.

Since 2010, the Fête de la musique has been entertaining music lovers on 21st June every year with free concerts of bands and musicians, both professional and amateur, of different genres. On 10th November, the Cathedral Square gets crowded with thousands of people carrying Chinese lanterns to celebrate the Ecumenical St. Martin’s Festival or Martinsfest, which stands dedicated to the patron saint of Erfurt, St. Martin of Tours, and also to Martin Luther. With an enormous candle-decorated Christmas tree, hand-carved figures, a crib scene, traditional crafts and specialties of Thuringia, the Christmas Market of Erfurt is the biggest in Thuringia and one of the most beautiful in Germany.

Furthermore, the largest competition for professional chefs in the world is to be hosted for the fourth time by the city of Erfurt. Roughly 50 countries will be sending about 1,600 skilled chefs to compete in the International Culinary Exhibition at Messe Erfurt Exhibition Center. Between 22nd and 25th October in 2016, you get a chance to taste the lip-smacking dishes prepared by these chefs at any one of the restaurants in the exhibition hall!

Major Attractions:

  • The Merchants’ Bridge (Krämerbrücke) – The most famous tourist attraction in Erfurt, this medieval bridge dating back to the 15th century is lined with half-timbered structures that are unique in Europe. Today, the houses have artisans’ workshops, antique shops, food outlets, and so on.
  • The Cathedral Square (Domplatz) – This historic market square, the largest in Erfurt and one of the biggest in Germany, attracts tourists with the Erthal Obelisk from 1777 and the Minerva Fountain from 1784. An open-air theater festival named the Dom-Stufen Festival takes place here in summer.
  • The Cathedral of St. Mary (Dom St. Marien) – Over the Cathedral Square, this Episcopal see, representing a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque styles of architecture, houses the “Maria Gloriosa”, the world’s most enormous bell of the medieval times, as well as “The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine” which was painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder in the 16th century.
  • St. Severus’ Church (Severikirche) – Constructed around 1300 beside St. Mary’s Cathedral, this Gothic church is the second-largest one in Erfurt.
  • The Egapark Erfurt  – One of the biggest parks in Germany, the Egapark houses a rose garden, a butterfly house, a Japanese water garden with rocks, Europe’s largest ornamental flowerbed, and Thuringia’s biggest playground for children. From March to October it remains open from 9:00 am till 6:00 pm daily, while you can visit this horticultural monument from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm between November and February.
  • The Municipal Museum (Stadtmuseum) – This museum provides useful information on the medieval and early modern history of Erfurt, with a focus on the University of Erfurt and its most famous student, Martin Luther.
  • The Erfurt Synagogue (Alte Synagoge) – Europe’s oldest synagogue still standing, its museum has been hosting exhibitions about the history of the Jewish community in Erfurt and has been housing Hebrew manuscripts of medieval times and the so-called Erfurt Treasure since 2009.
  • The Fish Market (Fischmarkt) – A neo-Gothic town hall from the 19th century and patrician houses portraying the Renaissance architectural style encircle this square. At its center stands a statue called “Römer,“ symbolizing the independence of Erfurt since 1591.
  • The Anger  – The city center has the Martin Luther monument, dating back to 1889, to its north-east, and the Angerbrunnen Fountain in its western end.
  • St. Augustine’s Monastery – A Protestant Evangelical monastery today, it was built from 1277 and provided shelter to Martin Luther when he was living as a monk from 1505 to 1511.
  • The Kakteen Haage cactus nursery – It boasts of being the oldest cactus garden in Europe. You can admire its wide collection of cactus plants every day, except on Sundays.
  • The Nordpark – This 9-hectare area, with open meadows and an outdoor pool, is the biggest public parkland in Erfurt.

What Else is Around?

  • The Steiger Forest (Steigerwald)
  • The All Saints’ Church (Allerheiligenkirche)
  • The Brühler Garten
  • The National Museum of Horticulture (Deutsches Gartenbaumuseum)

A favorite shopping destination for all, Erfurt invites you to take a look at its unending list of tourist attractions and interesting spots. So, go ahead and enjoy exploring this amazing place with your family and friends.