Erfurt is a lovely town with one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Germany. Many newer buildings are also richly decorated and even banks and bakeries are housed in works of art. Erfurt’s close proximity to Weimar means that it is forever overshadowed in the tourism stakes by the smaller town. The trade off is fewer visitors and a city that is much easier to enjoy. There is little pressure to visit museums in Erfurt and it is possible to appreciate the beauty of this town by simply wondering around in the narrow, historic streets.

One of Erfurt’s best-known sights is the Krämerbrücke (Shopkeepers’ Bridge). It is the only bridge north of the Alps with inhabited houses. It is 120 m long and lined by two rows of houses that completely covers both sides of the bridge. Walking down the road is like walking down any street, as the River Gera is never visible. The bridge dates back to 1325 and currently spans the river with six arches. It has 33 buildings, including a church at the far end. Most of the buildings have antique shops and small boutiques.

At the church end of the bridge, go down the narrow flight of stairs and continue past the Sorat Hotel to the Horngasse, which spans the river slightly to the north. This vantage point offers the best views of the Krämerbrucke.

Nearby is the Augustinerkloster (Augustine Monastery) where Martin Luther lived from 1505 until 1511. The original thirteenth century buildings were completely destroyed in 1945, but rebuilt in recent years. Most of the site is used as a conference center, but the reconstructed Martin Luther cell, the lovely library and other parts of the monastery can be seen.

In1808, Napoleon Bonaparte met Czar Alexander in Erfurt. In a conference lasting 18 days, Napoleon unsuccessfully tried to convince the Czar to join forces and neutralize Austria. The street across the Krämerbrücke continues into Futterstraße. Most of the of the diplomacy took place at Number 15, in what is now know as the Kaisersaal (Emperor’s Hall). It houses several restaurants and conference facilities and is not open to the general public.

Nearby is the Anger, a large square near the main station and the heart of commercial Erfurt. It is also a major hub of the tram network. The shops on the square are all housed in large, grand buildings and the post office building here must be one of the best looking in Germany.