Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [218]
CHURCHES
Erfurt’s churches give an interesting insight into the city’s history. The old university church Michaeliskirche ( 346 7212; cnr Michaelisstrasse & Allerheiligenstrasse; 11am-4pm Mon-Sat) boasts a magnificent organ (1652), made by local master Ludwig Compenius, and was a key gathering place of leading local dissidents during the final days of the GDR.
The bomb-damaged Barfüsserkirche ( 554 560; Barfüsserstrasse 20; adult/concession €1/0.50; 10am-1pm & 2-6pm Apr-Oct) has a small collection of medieval art and hosts a summer theatre in its courtyard.
MUSEUMS
A trio of museums peer into the past of Erfurt and the region. Inside the magnificent portal of the Haus am Stockfisch, the Stadtmuseum (City Museum; 655 5650; Johannesstrasse 169; adult/concession/family €4/3/12; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun) has exhibits ranging from a medieval bone-carver’s workshop to displays on Erfurt in GDR times.
The Angermuseum ( 562 3311; www.angermuseum.de; Anger 18) has been undergoing restoration forever and we don’t dare venture a guess at when it will again present its fine collections of medieval art, landscape paintings and Thuringian faience (glazed earthenware). ‘Soon’, say the tourist office folk. Keep us posted.
Meanwhile, you can swing by the Museum für Thüringer Volkskunde (Thuringian Folklore Museum; 655 5607; Juri-Gagarin-Ring 140a; adult/concession €1.50/0.75; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun) for folkloric costumes, painted furniture and other items illustrating village life throughout the ages.
EGAPARK ERFURT
It’s easy to spend hours amid the kaleidoscopic flower beds, romantic rose garden, Japanese rock garden and greenhouses of the rambling egapark (Erfurter Gartenausstellung; 564 3737; www.ega-erfurt.com; Gothaer Strasse 38; adult/concession/family €6/4.80/14; 9am-8pm May–mid-Sep, 9am-sunset mid-Sep–Apr), about 4km west of the city centre (take tram 2 from Anger). It’s so huge that there’s even a little trolley to whisk around the foot weary. Part of the park is the medieval Cyriaksburg citadel, now home to a horticultural museum. Climb to the top for fantastic views.
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Walking Tour
This walking tour checks off all the major attractions in the heart of the city. Starting at the Hauptbahnhof, head a short way north on Bahnhofstrasse to the 14th-century Reglerkirche (1). The portal and the southern tower of this former monastery church are Romanesque, and the large carved altar dates back to 1460.
Bahnhofstrasse intersects with Anger, Erfurt’s busy commercial strip. On your right looms the big Anger 1 shopping mall (2), right next to the twin-towered Kaufmannskirche (3). Cut a left on Anger, shuffle past the yellow Angermuseum (4; Click here) and note the pretty facades at No 23 and Nos 37–38. You’ll also pass the Bartholomäusturm (5), a tower with a 60-bell Glockenspiel that chimes its merry tune daily at 10am, noon and 6pm.
At the Angerbrunnen (6) fountain, veer right and follow Regierungsstrasse past Wigbertikirche (7) to the Renaissance and baroque Stadthalterpalais (8), now the office of Thuringia’s chancellor. Turn north (right) into Meister-Eckehart-Strasse, then right into Barfüsserstrasse, where the hauntingly ruined Barfüsserkirche (9; Click here) awaits. Double back to Meister-Eckehart-Strasse and turn right, heading past the 13th-century Predigerkirche (10). Then turn west (left) into Paulstrasse and continue along Kettenstrasse to Domplatz, presided over by the grand combo of Mariendom (11; Click here) and Severikirche (12; Click here).
Northwest of the Dom complex, on another hill, are the Zitadelle Petersberg (13; Click here) and the Romanesque Peterskirche (14; Click here).
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WALK FACTS
Start Hauptbahnhof
Finish Fischmarkt
Distance 3.2km
Duration Two hours
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