Discover Erfurt: History, Gardens and City Life

Erfurt combines Jewish medieval heritage with striking churches, fortress architecture and green places to explore. Highlights include Krämerbrücke, Petersberg Citadel, egapark and Thuringia Zoo Park. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay: historic sites, garden experiences, or nature and wildlife.

Jewish Medieval Heritage

The Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt comprises the Old Synagogue, the Mikveh and the Stone House. It illustrates how a Jewish community lived alongside a predominantly Christian society during the development of the medieval city. At the time, Erfurt was at the crossroads of important trade routes—a historical context that adds to the picture of life together in the city.

Most of the particularly well-preserved fabric of the Old Synagogue dates from around 1100 to the early 14th century, when it was used as a synagogue. At the Mikveh, its original function as a ritual bath is fully apparent. The three sites reveal different aspects of Jewish medieval heritage, from architectural history to religious use.

Churches and Monastery

The medieval free-swinging bell Gloriosa is housed in the central tower of St. Mary’s Cathedral. St. Severus is a five-aisled Gothic hall church. Its notable furnishings include the Severi sarcophagus, a stone Madonna and a 15-metre-high baptismal font.

The Evangelical Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt is a well-preserved example of medieval monastic architecture: the complex includes a church, three courtyards enclosed by buildings, and convent and utility buildings. Martin Luther’s time at the monastery is also associated with specific dates: he entered it in 1505 and celebrated his first Mass there in 1507. Here, architectural history and an important period in Luther’s life come together.

Krämerbrücke and Its Houses

Krämerbrücke is Europe’s longest bridge that is continuously lined with houses and inhabited. It is 120 metres long and has 32 houses. Galleries and shops offer regional handicrafts, including Thuringian blue-print fabrics, hand-painted ceramics, Lauscha glass and wood carvings. Regional delicacies such as Unstrut wines are also available. This means you can discover the bridge not only as a structure, but also through its current selection of handicrafts and regional products.

Petersberg: Fortress and Views

Petersberg Citadel is one of the largest and the only largely preserved Baroque city fortresses in Central Europe. During a visit, you can explore the exhibition in the Commandant’s House and the listening passages in the massive fortress walls. Its elevated position and star-shaped layout provide several viewpoints with sweeping views across Erfurt. Sunsets can be seen from Michael’s Bastion in the west—a different perspective on the city from exploring its buildings and interiors.

Gardens, Animals and Landscapes

Erfurt’s green side also encompasses a range of themes. Steigerwald has been a protected landscape area since 1940. The urban landscape includes 550 hectares of recreational areas, around 2,000 hectares of woodland, 379 hectares of water and 156 kilometres of rivers.

egapark is an important 1960s garden monument with 20 themed gardens. At Danakil, visitors travel through desert and tropics and learn how plants and animals adapt to extreme living conditions. The park also features Thuringia’s largest playground, with a children’s farm and water area, as well as historic Cyriaksburg Castle with the German Horticultural Museum. Families with children will find specific opportunities here to play and explore, while the themed gardens and museum cater to other interests.

Another way to include wildlife in your stay is to visit Thuringia Zoo Park in Erfurt. It covers around 63 hectares and is home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world in enclosures modelled on natural habitats. Along with the green spaces and waterways, the zoo park complements historic visits with experiences in nature.

Shape Your Stay Around Your Interests

Erfurt offers a range of themes that you can prioritise according to your interests. This way, you can search for the kind of stay you want rather than focusing solely on one attraction.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Erfurt, Kerspleben, Molsdorf, Frienstedt, Tiefthal, Kühnhausen, Niedernissa.

Go to the overarching travel guide: Thuringia.