Salomonsborn is now located on the northwestern edge of Erfurt. Its residents affectionately call the place “Salome.” Two local features offer a concrete starting point when choosing a destination: the late Baroque Hesse Organ in St. Dionysius Church and the tent fair.
Organ history and festival in Salomonsborn
The Hesse Organ dates from 1764. It is currently stored outside the church. If you are planning a visit specifically to see the organ, check its restoration status in advance. This allows you to take its current situation into account: the instrument is not currently in the church, but stored elsewhere.
The tent fair in Salomonsborn also includes a fair disco. This adds a local festival theme alongside the church instrument. If you are planning your trip around the fair, check the dates before making plans. The organ and the festival represent different sides of the place: an instrument with a precise date and late Baroque classification, and an event featuring a fair disco.
Erfurt as a wider travel destination
Erfurt offers a broader cultural setting. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Jewish-Medieval Heritage in Erfurt is located in the heart of Erfurt’s Old Town and comprises the Old Synagogue, the mikveh and the Stone House. These rare and exceptionally well-preserved examples of Jewish buildings in Central Europe are a particular highlight. The Old Synagogue presents evidence of Erfurt’s medieval Jewish culture. The Krämerbrücke offers a different view of the city: it is one of Erfurt’s landmarks and Europe’s longest continuously built-up and inhabited bridge.
Erfurt’s churches also showcase different periods of architectural history. St. Mary’s Cathedral has a High Gothic choir, a Romanesque tower area and a Late Gothic west hall. Its central tower houses the Gloriosa, the world’s largest medieval freely swinging bell. St. Severus’ Church also stands on Cathedral Hill: a five-aisled Gothic hall church that served as the collegiate church of a community of canons from the 12th century onward. Its works of art include the Severus sarcophagus from 1365, whose side panels depict the saint’s life, a stone Madonna from 1345 and a 15-metre-high baptismal font from 1467.
Two access details are useful for getting your bearings on Cathedral Hill: a 70-step open staircase leads up from Cathedral Square. The panoramic trail to Petersberg Citadel also begins at Cathedral Square and provides independent access to the citadel without any additional aids. The citadel is one of the largest and the only largely preserved Baroque city fortresses in Central Europe. Its elevated position offers several viewpoints with sweeping views across Erfurt; sunsets can be seen from Michael Bastion in the west.
Gardens and nature in Erfurt
The egapark Erfurt brings together a range of garden themes. The grounds include the Danakil Desert and Jungle House, themed gardens, the Forest of Knowledge and the German Horticultural Museum. They also feature Europe’s largest ornamental flower bed, covering an area of 6,000 square metres. The park also has Thuringia’s largest playground, which covers 35,000 square metres. For specific plans, it is advisable to check the latest information on the facilities and programme.
The Thuringian Zoo Park Erfurt offers a different nature-focused experience. It covers around 63 hectares and is home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world. Some enclosures can be entered by visitors; the zoo also participates in breeding programmes for endangered species. Since animal numbers can change, checking the latest figures is useful when planning your visit.
Travel planning within Erfurt can also be based on a clear reference point: Erfurt Central Station is an important hub in Deutsche Bahn’s ICE network. It connects long-distance and regional rail services with the city’s public transport. For specific travel dates, check the relevant timetables.
Discover more destinations: Alach, Ermstedt.
Back to the wider travel overview: Erfurt.
