Destinations Menu
RSS
2 Of 4
Sightseeing in Erfurt
Sightseeing in Erfurt
Erfurt's Domplatz
Erfurt’s historic center is fairly large, but the numerous beautifully decorated buildings make the city easy to enjoy and a pleasure to stroll in. A good place to start is from the massive Domplatz, the size of four football fields. It is about half an hours’ walk from the station – well worth it to see the interesting decorated buildings – or it can be reached in minutes by tram.
The most impressive sight in Erfurt is from the Domplatz towards Cathedral Hill. A wide flight of 70 stairs leads from the square to the top of the hill where the cathedral and an abbey are set in close proximity.
The Dom St Marien (St Mary’s Cathedral), Domberg, was originally a Romanesque basilica, constructed in 1154. The High Gothic choir was added in the 14th century and, from 1455, the original nave was replaced by a Late Gothic construction. One of the largest free-swinging bells in the world, the 1497 “Gloriosa” rings on special occasions from the central tower. The main entrance is through an interesting High Gothic portal – two doors are set obliquely to form a rare triangular portal. The current interior is mostly Baroque. The Wolfram, a bronze statue candelabra dating from 1160, is considered the oldest freestanding bronze sculpture in Germany. The stained-glass windows in the choir are 14th-century originals. In 1507, Martin Luther was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in this cathedral.
Across the road is the St Severikirche (St Severus Church), at Severihof 2, a five-nave early Gothic hall church. Its towers have tall, sleek spire roofs – the cathedral once had similar ones – that must be any thunderbolt’s dream. The interior is mostly Baroque, but the real treasures are Gothic: the 1,360 sarcophagi of St Severus and the 15-m (48-foot) baptismal font created in 1467.
The narrow road in front of the church, Severihof, leads to the Zitadelle Petersberg (Petersberg Citadel), the only largely intact Baroque town fortifications in central Europe. The view from here on a
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
Overview
Hotels(3)
Restaurants(6)
Attractions(9)
Activities(3)
Visitor Information
Weather Forecast
- Reported on:
Sun, 05/12/2024 - 22:50
- Reported on:
Trending Themes:
Guides to Popular Ski Resorts
-
Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More
-
Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More
-
Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More
-
Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More
-
Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More
-
St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More
-
Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More
-
St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More
-
Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More