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Erfurt, Germany
Erfurt is a city that many travelers overlook, but those who stop are enchanted. The Kramerbrucke (Merchants' Bridge) is the longest inhabited bridge in Europe, lined with 32 half-timbered houses containing craft shops, galleries, and cafes — you can walk across it without realizing you are on a bridge. The Domplatz is dominated by the twin churches of the Cathedral and the Severus Church, reached by a monumental 70-step staircase that serves as an outdoor theater during summer performances. The old town's narrow streets, colorful facades, and medieval squares survived World War II largely intact. Martin Luther studied at the University of Erfurt and entered the Augustinian Monastery here, and both sites are open to visitors. The old Synagogue, dating to 1094, is one of the oldest in Europe and houses a remarkable medieval Jewish treasure discovered in 1998.
explore by interest
Walk the Kramerbrucke slowly — peek into the tiny shops and galleries in the half-timbered houses, then step to the side to see the bridge from the riverbank below.
May through September offers warm weather and outdoor concerts on the cathedral steps, while the Erfurt Christmas Market is one of Germany's most atmospheric.