Erfurt, Thuringia · An independent perspective
A bridge. A monastery. A prison.
Discover the history that lives in Erfurt’s streets—and in the people who shaped them.
From medieval trading streets to
the courage of a peaceful revolution.
01 / Through the centuries
Follow the places, people and turning points that made Erfurt.
Erfurt’s first recorded mention, in a letter associated with Saint Boniface in 742, opens a journey through the city’s religious, architectural, and civic history.
Chapter 02 · The medieval city
Woad, a plant used to produce blue dye, helped shape Erfurt’s trading life. The Krämerbrücke—the Merchants’ Bridge—and the Old Synagogue offer distinct perspectives on the medieval city and its Jewish heritage.
Explore medieval ErfurtMartin Luther’s formative years at the Augustinerkloster, the Augustinian Monastery, connect Erfurt to the history of the Reformation. This chapter follows religion through the places and institutions that shaped it.
The Napoleonic Congress of Erfurt, Prussian rule, and industrial development mark successive changes in the city’s political and everyday life.
The First World War and the Nazi regime demand careful, factual examination. Erfurt’s history includes persecution, forced labour, and Topf & Söhne, the company that built crematoria ovens for Auschwitz.
From Soviet occupation to the German Democratic Republic (GDR), this chapter examines political control, expropriation, and the Stasi remand prison in Andreasstraße.
The Peaceful Revolution and the occupation of the Stasi headquarters in 1989 form a turning point. The story continues through the changes that followed and into the city of today.
02 / History, remembered
For the creator, Mario V.W.B.R. Obst, Andreasstraße is part of his own life. Imprisoned here in February 1989 and released in October, he brings a personal perspective to the city’s transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Read Modern Erfurt ↗
03 / Beyond the timeline
Look beyond dates and discover the landscapes and connections around the city.
Follow the river through a history of mills, inhabited bridges, flood protection and public green spaces.
Follow the city’s connections with Thuringia, then step into the nearby woodland of the Steigerwald.