Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [216]
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Getting There & Away
The only airport is in Erfurt, but it’s tiny and, unless you’re driving, you’re far more likely to arrive by train. All the major towns are served several times daily from Frankfurt, Berlin, Dresden and other cities.
Drivers will find the A4 a handy link between the major towns, from Eisenach in the west to Jena in the east. The new A71 autobahn cuts north–south through the forest from Erfurt to Schweinfurt in northern Bavaria. The Berlin–Munich A9 cuts through the eastern part of Thuringia. The rural north and mountainous south of the state are criss-crossed by well-maintained ‘B’ roads.
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Getting Around
Trains are supplemented by local bus networks and an efficient road system. There are two good-value discount train tickets available in Thuringia. The Thüringen-Ticket (€28) gives up to five people unlimited travel within the state from 9am to 3am the following day or, on Saturday and Sunday, from midnight to 3am the following day. It is valid in 2nd class on RE, RB and S-Bahn trains, as well as on buses and trams. The version for single travellers costs €19. Another good deal is the Hopper-Ticket (€6), which is valid for a day return to any town within 50km of your starting point, including places in Saxony-Anhalt. All tickets costs €2 more if bought from a train station agent instead of a vending machine.
Thuringia also has an extensive bike trail system. The website www.rad-thueringen.de has lots of information, but unfortunately only in German.
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CENTRAL THURINGIA
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ERFURT
0361 / pop 199,000
Thuringia’s capital is a scene-stealing combo of sweeping squares, time-worn alleyways, perky church towers, idyllic river scenery and vintage inns and taverns. On the little Gera River, Erfurt was founded by the indefatigable missionary St Boniface as a bishopric in 742 and was catapulted to prominence and prosperity in the Middle Ages when it began producing a precious blue pigment from the woad plant. In 1392 rich merchants founded the university, allowing students to study common law, rather than religious law. Its most famous graduate was Martin Luther, who studied philosophy here before becoming a monk at the local Augustinian monastery in 1505.
Today Erfurt’s looks still very much reflect its medieval roots, but, fortunately, it’s anything but ossified. Refounded in 1994, the university is again going strong, with students injecting verve and vigour into the city’s cultural life. Erfurt is also a media hub as the seat of KI.KA, a popular children’s TV channel, and several radio stations and newspapers. Its numerous sightseeing gems include a lofty cathedral, the winding streets of the restored Altstadt (old town), a spectacular garden and one of Europe’s most interesting bridges.
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Orientation
The Hauptbahnhof (central train station) is just outside the ring road on the southeastern edge of the town centre. It’s a five-minute walk northwest from the Hauptbahnhof along Bahnhofstrasse to Anger, the main shopping artery, and another five minutes to Fischmarkt and the tourist office.
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Information
Emergency Clinic ( 224 9910; Puschkinstrasse 23; 24hr)
Erfurt Tourist Office (www.erfurt-tourismus.de) Benediktsplatz ( 664 00; Benediktsplatz 1; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun Apr-Dec, 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm Sun Jan-Mar) Petersberg ( 6015 384; 11am-6.30pm Apr-Oct, 11am-4pm Nov & Dec) Sells the ErfurtCard (€12.90 per 48 hours), which includes a city tour,