What to do in Krämpfervorstadt

St. Boniface, the Anglo-Saxon missionary who brought Roman Catholicism to the eastern Carolingian Empire, first founded Erfurt Cathedral in 742. Look for Romanesque elements still evident from when the church was first built even though the church has been rebuilt over the years.

The Krämerbrücke, or Merchants’ Bridge, is a long and old bridge in Europe and one of the most distinctive architectural elements of Erfurt. Connecting the eastern and western sides of the Old Town over the Breitstrom, the bridge was originally built in 1100 as part of the Via Regia, a trade route that connected the far-flung parts of the Christian world, from Spain to France to Russia. Merchants still ply their wares here today; both sides of the bridge are lined with shops that are perfect for souvenir shopping and learning more about the cultural heritage of Thuringia.

A must-see for art and architecture enthusiasts, the Bauhaus Museum is dedicated to the 20th-century art movement of the same name, which originated here in Weimar. Learn about the philosophy developed in the influential art school and the Nazi pressure that led to the school’s demise. See examples of paintings, drawings and objects created by Bauhaus followers.

Located on a hill above the Domplatz, Erfurt’s Zitadelle Petersberg overlooks the town with a calm befitting its thousand years of history. The hill was originally the site of a Benedictine monastery, which was handed over to the military in the 17th century. The structure remains one of few preserved Baroque town fortresses in Europe and is a beautiful entry into the military history of Thuringia.

Standing in a prominent position on Weimar’s central Theaterplatz, the Goethe-Schiller Monument pays homage to two of the greatest writers to ever live in the city: Johann Wolfgang Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. Pay tribute to the two literary greats, both of whom were leading figures in the Weimar Classicism movement.