Erfurt

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Erfurt


Country	Germany
State	Thuringia
District	urban district
Population	202,619 source (2006/06/30)
Area	269.17 km²
Population density	753 /km²
Elevation	158-430 m
Coordinates	50°59′ N 11°2′ E
Postal code	99001-99198
Area code	0361
Licence plate code	EF
Mayor	Andreas Bausewein (SPD)
Website	erfurt.de

Mariendom and the Severikirche.

The cathedral Mariendom at night.

Erfurt [ˈɛɐ̯fʊɐ̯t] is a city in central Germany. It is the capital of the state of Thuringia with a population of 202,619 (2006).

Erfurt is located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 113 km SE of Kassel and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Hamburg.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Main sights
4 Culture
5 Transportation
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Since the Reunification of Germany, Erfurt is the main city nearest to the geographical centre of the country. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, within the wide valley of Gera River, a tributary of the Unstrut. To the south, the city is surrounded by hills covered by woods ("Steigerwald").

[edit] History

Erfurt was first mentioned in 742 under the name of "Erphesfurt". It was an important trading town during the Middle Ages near a ford across the Gera river. Together with the other five Thuringian woad-towns of Gotha, Tennstedt, Arnstadt and Langensalza it was the centre of the German woad trade. In 1392 Erfurt University was founded, which was famous in its time but became defunct in 1816. In 1803 Erfurt became a part of Prussia. Although enclosed by Thuringian territory, the city remained Prussian until 1944. After the end of World War II, it fell in the Soviet Zone of occupation, which would later become the GDR. After German reunification Erfurt became the capital of the re-established state of Thuringia.

In contrast to most other major German cities, Erfurt suffered only limited damage from Allied air raids during World War II.

On April 26, 2002 the student Robert Steinhäuser killed 13 teachers, 2 students, a police officer and himself at the Gutenberg-Gymnasium school (see Erfurt massacre).

[edit] Main sights

Erfurt has maintained an intact medieval city centre.

Erfurt is symbolised by the two churches, the Mariendom and the Severikirche, which stand directly side by side and together form the emblem of the city. Both churches tower above the townscape and are accessible via huge open stairs.

Another remarkable site is the Krämerbrücke, a bridge crossing the narrow Gera River. The bridge is covered with inhabited buildings. It was built in 1325 with a church on either bridgehead, one of which still exists.

The Augustinerkloster is an ancient Augustinian monastery. Martin Luther had lived in the Augustinerkloster for a few years after 1505.

[edit] Culture

Martin Luther attended the University of Erfurt and received his bachelor's and master's degrees there. Luther lived there as a monk from 1505–1511.

Erfurt is the birthplace of one of Johann Sebastian Bach's cousins, Johann Bernhard Bach (1676–1749), Johann Sebastian Bach's father Johann Ambrosius Bach (1645–1695), Meister Eckhart and also sociologist Max Weber (1864–1920). Bach's parents were married in a small church that still exists on main square Anger.

Johann Pachelbel served as organist at the Prediger church in Erfurt. Pachelbel composed approximately seventy pieces for organ while in Erfurt. Since 1906 the composer Richard Wetz (1875-1935) lived in Erfurt and became the leading person in the town's musical life. His major works were written here, too, so three symphonies, a Requiem and a Christmas Oratorio.

In 1349, during the wave of pogroms which followed the Black Plague across Europe, the Jews of Erfurt were rounded up, more than 100 killed and the rest driven from the city, and the ghetto burned. Recently, the remains of the medieval synagogue have been discovered beneath newer buildings, and are being restored.