Two massive churches dominate Cathedral hill, the Cathedral itself, and St Severus. Erfurt has a great restaurant and bar scene … and the cobblestoned streets in the Altstadt are perfect for wandering. Erfurt gets its first mention in as Erpesfurt… the crossing place or ford Furt of the Erpf river. St Boniface liked the location so much, he asked the Pope to make it a Bishopric. This city on the eastern edge of the Frankish empire grew in strength, first as a defensive city… and later because of its location on the Via Regia.
Woad, a blue dye, brought wealth to the city, and in , Erfurt joined the Hanseatic league. Martin Luther went to university in Erfurt, and later joined the priesthood there. The city itself became Protestant after the Protestant Revolution. Erfurt fortunately escaped WWII bombing and destruction meaning much of the Altstadt stayed intact , then after the war, became a part of East Germany. Today, old and new live harmoniously in this beautiful surprise of a city.
Because I booked a private tour, we met Matthias, the Nightwatchman in the lobby of Hotel Dorint … a modern and comfortable hotel behind Cathdral hill, with a view of the Petersburg Fortress. Matthias wore is nightwatchman cape and hat… carried a walking stick and lantern…and off we went. Severi Church. Although the Cathedral dominates, St Severi holds the center spot. Both churches maintain their own congregations.
St Severi started as a monastery church. The Cathedral, founded by St Boniface in grew so much, they needed to extend the hill to make the foundation big enough for the massive structure. Fortunately, there is a Biergarden at the base of the steps to fortify you for the impending climb.
A Crusader came home to his wife in Erfurt with a special surprise. While he was in the Middle East, he was wounded, and healed by a local woman. He fell in love and married her. Then brought her home. In Erfurt, he set her up in a household… then went to break the news to his first wife. She was so happy to see him, and so thankful to the other woman for healing him, that she accepted the second wife.
