Krämerbrücke Guide
There’s no better place to start when visiting Erfurt than with the wonderful Krämerbrücke. An iconic sight of the city, this merchant bridge is reason to come all on its own. The Krämerbrücke is Europe’s longest bridge covered in houses, many of which people still live in to this day.
The current stone bridge was originally built in 1325 and expanded in 1472 after a fire. Originally there were 62 narrow merchant houses along the bridge, but over time houses were merged. Now some of the 32 remain houses actually have multiple entrances to them. Once you’ve walked along the cobblestone street that spans the bridge, you really need to come around to the small square north of it. It’s here that you’re treated to a full view of the bridge in all its glory.
At one end of the Krämerbrücke lies the Ägidienkirche church, who’s belltower you can climb for views of the old town. Nearby you’ll also find the remains of Erfurt’s medieval mikveh, a ritual bath used by the city’s Jewish community.
Make sure you cross the bridge to see all the little boutique shops and over hanging houses. You feel like you are just walking down a normal street, but you’re on a bridge.
Location
Krämerbrücke, 99084 Erfurt, Germany
Gera Riverfront
One of Erfurt’s most defining features is the Gera river that flows through the city. Although not a major river, the Gera does grant the city a beautiful riverfront. The Krämerbrücke may be the most popular landmark along the river, but it’s worth taking a stroll along other parts as well. The area by the river northwest of the iconic bridge is particularly beautiful. It’s here that you’ll see many restored traditional houses among lush trees overlooking the river. If you’re a fan of bridges, the Gera is also a good spot to visit with countless crossing its gentle stream.
Fischmarkt Square
For the heart of city life in Erfurt you need to head to the city’s main square, the Fischmarkt. Lined with traditional burghers’ houses, it really is one of the most splendid sights in Erfurt. It’s also one of the busiest places in the city, especially on market days. But even with crowds of people and trams rolling through, the Fischmarkt maintains its charm without issue.
What’s interesting about this main square is that the City Hall is greatly overshadowed by other buildings here. Among the beautiful buildings on Fischmarkt, “Zum Breiten Herd” and the Gildehaus next door are fascinating to look at thanks to the friezes on their facade. The “Zum roten Ochsen” house is no slouch, home to the Kunsthalle Erfurt art gallery that we’ll cover later.
Visiting Erfurt
Beyond sightseeing in Erfurt, there are a handful of other things worth knowing before you go. One that’s always useful regards making your way there. Your best options for reaching Erfurt by public transport are either by train or with Flixbus. Nearby cities that make sense to come from include Leipzig, Berlin, Dresden and Frankfurt. We travelled from Berlin which took a couple of hours. None are all that far, but Leipzig is so close you could possible visit Erfurt as a day trip.
The other accommodation thing to think about is where to stay in Erfurt during your trip. You don’t want to stay far from the historical centre if you can help it, although there are always local buses and trams. Erfurt has a nice selection of hotels and apartments which will give you options. From my experience there, the Radisson Blu Hotel Erfurt is a safe choice too.
For more advice on sightseeing around Erfurt, I really recommend visiting the Tourist Information Office. Not only can they help with seeing the city, but you can rent an audio guide there as well.
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We enjoyed our quick stop at Merchants’ Bridge (Krämerbrücke) . Make sure its on your list if you are taking a road trip around Germany.
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