If you are considering Molsdorf as a place to stay, the palace park is a clear highlight: it illustrates the transition from a Baroque garden to a landscape park. Bus route 51 is also relevant for getting between Molsdorf and Erfurt, connecting the two places. Check the current timetable before travelling; bus services and times may change.

Garden Design at Molsdorf Palace Park

Gustav Adolph Count von Gotter had a Baroque garden laid out in Molsdorf Palace Park. Its design included the Hercules Fountain, a cascade, an orangery, ornamental flower beds and lavish sculptural decoration. These features give the Baroque garden a distinctive character; at the same time, the park represents the transition to a landscape park. The garden brings together different forms of design.

Guided tours of Molsdorf Palace Park are available on request from the Thuringian Palaces and Gardens Foundation. If you would like to explore the park with a guide, ask the foundation about its tours.

Erfurt as the Main Destination

The wider destination of Erfurt offers a range of cultural themes, from medieval Jewish heritage to church architecture. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jewish-Medieval Heritage in Erfurt lies 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 offer a distinctive historical focus. The Old Synagogue presents evidence of Erfurt’s medieval Jewish culture.

Several building periods come together at St. Mary’s Cathedral: its choir is High Gothic, the tower area is Romanesque and the west hall is Late Gothic. From Cathedral Square, a 70-step open staircase leads up to Cathedral Hill, home to St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Severus Church. The cathedral’s central tower houses the Gloriosa, the world’s largest free-swinging medieval bell. St. Severus Church also has a distinct architectural character: it is a five-aisled Gothic hall church and, from the 12th century onward, served as the collegiate church of a community of canons.

Works of art in St. Severus Church include the Severus sarcophagus from 1365, whose side panels depict the saint’s life, a stone Madonna from 1345 and a 15 m-high baptismal font from 1467. There are other works of art as well. On the Krämerbrücke, one of Erfurt’s landmarks, the houses stand continuously along the bridge; it is considered Europe’s longest bridge continuously lined with houses and inhabited. A tasting is offered at Goldhelm, right on the Krämerbrücke. If you plan to take part, check the latest visitor information beforehand.

The Petersberg Citadel offers a different perspective on Erfurt: it is one of the largest Baroque city fortresses in Central Europe and the only one there to have been largely preserved. Its elevated position offers several viewpoints with expansive views across the city; sunsets can be seen from the Michael Bastion to the west. For visitors interested in gardens and plants, egapark Erfurt features themed gardens, the Danakil Desert and Jungle House, the Forest of Knowledge and the German Horticultural Museum. It is also home to Europe’s largest ornamental flower bed, covering 6,000 m². Facilities and programmes may change; check the latest information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Erfurt, Niedernissa, Tiefthal, Kerspleben, Frienstedt, Kühnhausen.

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