Erfurt
 |
Mariendom and the Severikirche |
Erfurt is a city in central
Germany. It is the capital of the state of
Thuringia, and is a manufacturing centre with a population of 196,500.
Erfurt is located 100 km SW of
Leipzig, 113 km east of
Kassel and 180 km SE of
Hannover.
Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via
Munich.
Since the
Reunification of Germany, Erfurt is the main city nearest to the geographical centre of the country. It lies in the southern part of the
Thüringer Becken, within the wide valley of
Gera river, a tributary of the
Unstrut. To the south, the city is surrounded by hills covered by woods.
Erfurt was first mentioned in
742 under the name of "Erphesfurt". It was an important trading town during the
Middle Ages near a
ford across the Gera river. Together with the other five Thuringian
woad-towns of
Gotha,
Tennstedt,
Arnstadt and
Langensalza it was the centre of the German woad trade. In
1392 Erfurt University was founded, which was famous in its time but became defunct in
1816. In
1803 Erfurt became a part of
Prussia. Although enclosed by Thuringian territory, the city remained Prussian until
1945. After
German reunification Erfurt became the capital of the re-established
state of
Thuringia.
In contrast to most other major German cities, Erfurt suffered only limited damage from allied air raids during
World War II. On
April 26,
2002 the student Robert Steinhäuser killed 13 teachers, 2 students, a policeman and himself at the Gutenberg-
Gymnasium school (see
Erfurt massacre).
Except for some damage resulting from socialist architecture, Erfurt has maintained an intact medieval city centre.
Erfurt is symbolised by the two churches, the
Mariendom and the
Severikirche, which stand directly side by side and together form the emblem of the city. Both churches tower above the townscape and are accessible via huge open stairs.
Another remarkable site is the
Krämerbrücke, a
bridge crossing the narrow Gera River. The bridge is covered with inhabited buildings. It was built in
1325 with a
church on either
bridgehead, one of which still exists.
The
Augustinerkloster is an ancient
Augustinian monastery.
Martin Luther attended the University of Erfurt and received his bachelor's and master's degrees there. Luther lived there as a monk from
1505â€"
1511.
Erfurt is the birthplace of one of
Johann Sebastian Bach's cousins,
Johann Bernhard Bach (
1676â€"
1749), Johann Sebastian Bach's father
Johann Ambrosius Bach (
1645â€"
1695),
Meister Eckhart and also
sociologist Max Weber (
1864â€"
1920).
*
Official website (German, English, French)
*
Erfurt City Panoramas - Panoramic Views and virtual Tours
*
Kraemerbruecke*
Sister City (since 1993) with
Shawnee, Kansas
