account Visit the affordable B&B Hotel Erfurt in the State capital of Thüringen, and be surprised by the city’s unique flair. The city’s two main landmarks - the St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Church of St. Severi - can be sighted above the surrounding rooftops from some distance away. The medieval cityscape and Erfurt’s historic attractions invite visitors to undertake a journey into the past. Cosy cafes and restaurants, as well as countless attractive shops and boutiques offer ample opportunities to while away the time. No visit would be complete without a walk over the one-of-a-kind Krämer bridge. Erfurt offers an extensive cultural experience all year round, with theatres, numerous museums and regular events.
The Catholic Church of St. Severus, along with St. Mary’s Cathedral, is one of the landmarks of the city of Erfurt. They stand right next to each other on Cathedral Hill, as two of the city’s key landmarks. With its hall church design, it is one of Germany’s finest gothic buildings. Though the building has gone through slight alterations over time, the basic structure is preserved to this day.
The Merchants' Bridge in Erfurt is the only inhabited bridge north of the Alps, and is held to be Europe’s longest continuously-inhabited bridge lined with buildings all along its length. The original 120-metre-long Merchants' Bridge was made of wood and lined with 62 narrow half-timbered houses, which were subsequently converted into 32 buildings. These days, you’ll find the bridge lined with an array of little boutiques and shops that you’ll be eager to browse around.
The very well-preserved Baroque town fortress has stood for centuries as a landmark in Erfurt’s cityscape, and is the largest of its kind in all of Europe. Due to its modern star-shaped construction the fortress was held to be unassailable. It was built under the Electorate of Mainz, before becoming Prussian. Today the fortress buildings house public administration offices, apartments, tourist attractions and cultural venues.
The imposing Erfurt Cathedral is the landmark of the state capital of Thuringia, with impressive Gothic and Roman features. In the middle of the 8th century it served only briefly as a bishop's seat, and was subsequently, up until the early 19th century, the seat of St Mary’s Collegiate Church. Since 1994 it has reverted to being the Cathedral of the Erfurt diocese and seat of the cathedral chapter. The world’s largest medieval free-swinging bell, the "Gloriosa", in the middle belfry, is really worth seeing. The cathedral is open to visitors without following a guided tour, free of charge, outside of church service times.
The neo-Gothic City Hall at the Fish Market was built in 1870-1874. The origins of the building date back to the 11th century. The many murals portray legends and scenes from Luther’s life. The murals in the Banqueting Hall relate to the history of Erfurt. Concerts are held there regularly. The City Hall is also open to visitors as part of a guided tour.
