The skyline of Erfurt is shaped by dozens of churches, monasteries, and convents thrusting their pointed steeples upward to the sky. In the Middle Ages, Erfurt was known as "Thuringian Rome" because of its religious orders. The impressive twin churches on the Domberg (Cathedral Hill), the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Cathedral (14th century) and the Roman Catholic Parish church St. Severus with a flight of 70 outdoor steps leading from the Cathedral Square up the hill to the churches.

You'll also enjoy the magnificent patricians' houses and attractive half-timbered buildings, the impressive Augustinian Monastery with the famous "Luther cell", and the many churches that lent the city the nickname "Thuringia's Rome". All of these things make Erfurt a veritable picture book of German history. Here the past and present harmonize. In one of Germany's best-preserved medieval town centers, the life of a modern state capital pulses with vitality. Excellent transportation links and a broad selection of first-rate hotels and restaurants ensure that a "rendezvous with Erfurt" will be a worthwhile experience.

Our recommendations: Take a tour dedicated to following the footsteps of Martin Luther. Then wind up the day in a more worldly manner - with Thuringian dumplings or Thuringian fried sausages.