Vive la joie – Long live joy

Thuringia’s capital ERFURT (part 1)

It becomes urban in this and the two following chapters. After visiting the outskirts, we enter a city whose name is identified by the term “Erphesa”. To put it less scientifically, one can also say: “Bernd das Brot” and lots of “broad beans” live here. So, before you read on, enjoy guessing the city name.

At the beginning we visit Molsdorf Castle, just 15km south of Thuringia’s state capital. As a former pleasure palace (Vive la joie!), Imperial Count Gustav Adolf von Gotter (1692-1762) indulged his dissolute life here for a good decade. Today, in addition to the castle museum and the baroque park, we can enjoy food and drink, concerts or exhibitions in the restaurant with an upscale ambience We stay a little longer in the south-western suburban flair and visit the egapark with its adventure world such as themed gardens, open-air shows, plant fairs, but also an observatory, horticultural museum and observation tower. “Bernd das Brot” lives very close to the egapark. As always grouchy white bread, it is at home in the broadcasting house of the children’s channel KIKA and plays an important role there in a variety of programs. Following the already mentioned definition of the word “Erphesa” (means: dark colored), we visit a city in which there is a “ford”. It’s about Erfurt. Their “broad beans”, on the other hand, live all over the city. Because that is how all those who were born in Erfurt are reverently referred to. On our “joie de vivre tour” we now take the tram from the egapark to the city center, to the old town with the Krämerbrücke. This longest and completely built bridge over the river Gera is still today an El Dorado for art lovers and antique collectors (approx. 30 shops). The house of the “Krämerbrücke Foundation” (No. 31) opens its doors for background information on this unique building.

Let’s stay in the city. Not far from the bridge, on the An der Stadtmünze square, a rogue smiles down at us from his stele. It is Till Eulenspiegel, thought to be more anchored in Mölln in Schleswig-Holstein. But even here in Erfurt he drove his mischief with the “reading donkey”. Our stroll through the old town continues through the pretty fish market with the historic town hall down to the cathedral square. From here we look up at the impressive church ensemble of Erfurt Cathedral and St. Severi Church. Our actual sight and tour destination is one floor higher, the Petersberg Citadel. The ascent is steep, but it’s worth it. Don’t overlook the small vineyard on the mountainside. How about one of the guided tours in the huge, baroque city fortifications with the mysterious stairways and the military museum. Reports about life at the time within the fortress allow deep insights. The physical enjoyment follows the spiritual. To do this, we climb down the Zitadellenberg again in the direction of the Domplatz. Visually, the spacious area lies at the feet of the citadel visitor. The route based on the motto “Always according to the smell” proves to be tempting. Erfurt’s spring-like bratwurst festival of the Thuringian sausage maker guild under the motto “Thuringia Glows Up” or “Thuringian Rust Culture” attracts gourmands and gourmets. Participatory activities such as the bratwurst quiz or the bratwurst rodeo distract from the consumption of the delicious dishes from time to time The bratwurst fire is carried from the 1st German Bratwurst Museum in Mühlhausen to the fairground, where it then ignites the flames in the numerous charcoal grills. Joyful enjoyment is not only provided by “The Thuringians” themselves, but also by the entire framework of the event . Vive la joie! sequel follows Text: Wolf LeichsenringPhotos: Heike Lerch-Jankovicz

Wolf Leichsenring – Travel Journalist