
Erfurt was first mentioned by St. Boniface in the 8th century. This is one of Germany's oldest cities. It has witnessed a good deal of historic events and has played a significant role in the formation of important trading paths.
Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia, a region in central Germany. Erfurt was founded in 742, in the Gera River Valley, and it gets its name from Erpha (the former name of the river), which stood for 'brown water'. The old town of Erfesfurt became home to a Catholic diocese, which gave the town a start as a world-famous religious center. This is also a home town to Germany's fourth university to be founded in 1392. This is the place where Martin Luther got his education and where he took his vows and entered the priesthood. Thus, Erfurt has contributed to the Reformation. During the Middle Ages, Erfurt throve on woad trade.
Read further about Erfurt in our City Guide ...