Erfurt: Medieval Heritage and Garden Worlds

Erfurt combines medieval architecture and a vibrant urban history with expansive gardens and animal worlds. From the heritage of the Jewish community, churches and fortifications to egapark and the zoo, there are many different focal points to consider when planning your trip. You can decide whether you’d like to explore Erfurt mainly for its culture, spend time in gardens or combine the two.

Medieval heritage in the Old Town

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jewish-Medieval Heritage in Erfurt lies in the heart of Erfurt’s Old Town. It comprises the Old Synagogue, the mikveh and the Stone House—rare and exceptionally well-preserved examples of Jewish architecture in Central Europe. The Old Synagogue presents evidence of Erfurt’s medieval Jewish culture. Together, the three sites give your visit a clear historical focus.

Another landmark is Krämerbrücke, Europe’s longest bridge that is continuously lined with houses and inhabited. Its galleries and shops offer regional handicrafts, including Thuringian blue-dyed textiles, hand-painted ceramics and Lauscha glass. Regional delicacies are also on offer; Goldhelm, right on the bridge, offers tastings. This combines views of the distinctive structure with a taste of regional craftsmanship and cuisine.

St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Severus Church represent different chapters in Erfurt’s architectural and artistic history. The cathedral has a High Gothic choir, a Romanesque tower section and a Late Gothic west hall. Its central tower houses the Gloriosa, the world’s largest medieval free-swinging bell. St. Severus is a five-aisled Gothic hall church and was the collegiate church of a community of canons from the 12th century onward. Its artworks include the Severi sarcophagus from 1365, whose side panels depict the saint’s life, a stone Madonna from 1345 and a 15-metre-high baptismal font from 1467. A 70-step outdoor staircase leads from Cathedral Square up to Cathedral Hill, where both churches stand.

Fortress and city views

Petersberg Citadel is one of the largest and the only largely intact Baroque city fortresses in Central Europe. Its elevated location offers several viewpoints with expansive views across Erfurt. Sunsets can be seen from Michael Bastion in the west. If you like to end the day with a view over the city, this offers a different experience from the historic interiors and buildings of the Old Town. The panoramic path to the citadel starts at Cathedral Square and provides independent access without additional aids.

Gardens and animal worlds

egapark Erfurt brings together themed gardens, the Knowledge Forest, the German Horticultural Museum and the Danakil Desert and Jungle House. At Danakil, visitors walk through desert and tropics and learn how plants and animals have adapted to extreme living conditions. The park is also home to Europe’s largest ornamental flower bed, covering 6,000 square metres. Thuringia’s largest playground covers 35,000 square metres and offers another, distinctly different way for families with children to spend time together on their trip.

The Thuringian Zoo Park Erfurt offers another distinct experience: it covers around 63 hectares and is home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world. Some enclosures can be entered; the zoo also takes part in breeding programmes for endangered species. Horticulture, wildlife watching and historic buildings thus offer different ways to experience Erfurt according to your interests, so every trip need not have the same focus.

Erfurt as a starting point for planning your trip

Erfurt Central Station is an important hub in Deutsche Bahn’s ICE network. It connects long-distance and regional rail services with the city’s local public transport. When choosing your accommodation, you can first decide which experiences you want to shape your trip: the Old Town and architectural history, the citadel and city views, or gardens and animal worlds. You can then plan your routes and connections around the places you intend to visit.

Discover more destinations: Alach, Salomonsborn, Ermstedt, Frienstedt, Tiefthal, Kerspleben, Kühnhausen.

Back to the main travel overview: Erfurt.