The Krämerbrücke is an medieval inhabited arch bridge ,located in the city of Erfurt ,in Thuringia, a state of central Germany.
The first written description of the bridge is in Latin (“pons rerum venalium”) dating from 1156. Already on the wooden bridge there were traders on the left and the right who set up stands. In 1325 the bridge was built again in sandstone masonry.
The bridge, made of limestone and sandstone, measures 79 meters and is supported by five sandstone arches. Along the bridge there are 32 buildings , which is all that remains of the original 62 , some of which are half-timbered.
The bridge, made of limestone and sandstone, measures 79 meters and is supported by five sandstone arches. Along the bridge there are 32 buildings , which is all that remains of the original 62 , some of which are half-timbered.
Currently, the bridge houses are shops, mostly with folk handicrafts and shops with Thuringian blueprints, art houses, jewelry, wood carvings,cafes and antique shops. Apart from houses 15, 20, 24 and 33, they are all owned by the city of Erfurt. As a unique building, it is a real magnet attracting many tourists.
Access : Coordinates: 50.978611, 11.030833 / The Krämerbrücke is located in the heart of the historic center, north of the Town Hall Square and east of Michaelisstraße.
Contents
The Krämerbrücke is an medieval inhabited arch bridge ,located in the city of Erfurt ,in Thuringia, a state of central Germany.The first written description of the bridge is in Latin (“pons rerum venalium”) dating from 1156. Already on the wooden bridge there were traders on the left and the right who set up stands. In 1325 the bridge was built again in sandstone masonry.
The bridge, made of limestone and sandstone, measures 79 meters and is supported by five sandstone arches. Along the bridge there are 32 buildings , which is all that remains of the original 62 , some of which are half-timbered.Currently, the bridge houses are shops, mostly with folk handicrafts and shops with Thuringian blueprints, art houses, jewelry, wood carvings,cafes and antique shops. Apart from houses 15, 20, 24 and 33, they are all owned by the city of Erfurt. As a unique building, it is a real magnet attracting many tourists.
Highlights :
- The bridge is still an important gateway for the locals, as well as being one of the main tourist spots in the city, having had the same use for over 500 years. About 80 people live on the bridge today.
- The largest city festival in Erfurt is named after the bridge – the “Krämerbrückenfest”. It takes place around the Krämerbrücke and in the old town on the third weekend in June.
- The maintenance of the bridge is carried out by foundations established by the city: the Krämerbrücke Foundation, the German Foundation for the Preservation of Monuments in Bonn, the Elisabeth Fritz Thayssen Foundation in Hamburg.The foundation strictly controls what types of businesses can operate on the bridge to ensure that everything remains in line with historical roots.
- Originally the 120 m long Krämerbrücke was built with 62 narrow houses, which were later combined into 32 houses. Of the two former bridgehead churches at both ends of the bridge, the eastern Aegidia Church still exists today.
- In the “Haus der Stiftung” (Krämerbrücke 31), there is a permanent exhibition about the history of the bridge.
- One of Erfurt’s landmarks is the Krämerbrücke, the longest continuously built and inhabited bridge in Europe.
Activities : sightseeing / photo opportunities / Discover the cathedral and St. Severi, the rich patrician and charming half-timbered houses as well as the many churches and idyllic squares.
Go next : The Town Hall Square and east of Michaelisstraße / The Gothic cathedral with a high Gothic choir and Romanesque tower.
