Day 9 (Monday - September 2) In the Footsteps of Luther Today we'll say "Auf Wiedersehen" to Munich and transport ourselves back to the 16th century in the heart of Germany's "Luther Country." After checking into our hotel in Erfurt, we'll take a historic walking tour through Erfurt's half-timbered old town. We'll follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther as he became a priest in Erfurt's cathedraland later a monk in its monastery. We'll also learn about the town's historic Jewish population before sitting down to share the day's insights over a hearty dinner together. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 5 hours. Sleep in Erfurt.
Day 10 (Tuesday - September 3) Road to Reformation This morning we'll venture outside of Erfurt to visit the captivating Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther hid away in a small room and translated the New Testament into modern German. After our tour of Wartburg, we will return to Erfurt where you will have the rest of your afternoon and evening to wander through the picturesque pedestrian zone and market square. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Bus: 2 hours. Sleep in Erfurt
Lunch stop on our way to Erfurt Monday, September 2, 2024
On our way to Erfurt, Bryan had a great surprise for us. We stopped for a mini lunch just across the border between Bavaria and Thuringia. You can also see a white building in the pictures below. It's one of the last East German border stations you'd have to check through to go from East Germany to the West or vice versa. The building has been converted into a small museum called the Inner German Border Memorial Eisfeld-Rottenbach.
Linda and her tour buddy Ruth
Border facility Museum
Everyone is grabbing the grub
Berlin Wall display
Lunch stop on our way to Erfurt Coburger Str. 501 98673 Eisfeld, Germany
St. Gregor Church Monday, September 2, 2024
This was our first stop on the Erfurt city tour. A 14th-century Gothic parish church at Anger Square. It is one of Erfurt's largest and most important original parish churches. Note that the picture of the organ is only of the outer facade. They are hoping to finance (through donations) a new organ to fill it.
Alter, The Last Supper` by the Erfurt master Friedemann 1625
Alter close up
Organ facade.
St. Gregor Church Anger 80 99084 Erfurt, Germany Tel: +49 361 2626962
St. Augustine's Monastery Monday, September 2, 2024
This is another stop on our city tour. Since there are no tours, this is as close as we got. Our interest? Martin Luther lived in the monastery between 1505 and 1511. Unfortunately, virtually, none of the buildings from that time exist today.
The closest we got to the Cathedral was the Domplatz, a huge open area opposite the famous stairs. There was no way we were going to climb all those stairs.
We finished our first day in Erfurt with a group dinner in the biergarten of the Zum güldenen Rade restaurant. The food was good, and the service was great. The young woman who waited on us had an opportunity to try out her English. She was sheepish to do so but did VERY well.
Zum güldenen Rade Marktstraße 50, Waagegasse 2-4 99084 Erfurt Tel: +49 361 5613506
   
Hotel Am Kaisersaal Monday, September 2, 2024
We had breakfast both mornings in Erfurt at our hotel. It was by far the best breakfast we had on the trip. The selection of hot foods (fried eggs, bacon, sausage), cold foods(cold cuts, yogurt, various types of cereal), fresh fruit, and breads/rolls was outstanding!
Hotel Am Kaisersaal Futterstrasse 8 Erfurt Tel: 011 49 361 65 85 60 FAX: 011 49 0 361 6585666
         
Wartburg Castle Tuesday, September 3, 2024
The Wartburg Castle is where Martin Luther hid while translating the New Testament into the version of German used by the common people so everyone understood what they read.
From the top of the walkway up to the castle
In through the main gate
And out the other side
Our guide begins the tour
Artistic model of the castle
From room to room
Dining room with real glass windows
Mosaic ceiling (all small mosaic tiles)
The Chaple
That`s not a tapestry...it`s a painting on the wall
Same room other angle
Wooden alter
Banquet Room
Banquet room ceiling close-up
Full length of the banquet room
Martin Luther`s room
Martin Luther`s room
Wartburg Castle Auf d. Wartburg 1, 99817 Eisenach, Germany Tel: +49 3691 2500
      
Rathaus (Town Hall) Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Another stop on our city tour. We're standing in the Fischmarkt (market square) of Erfurt. Pretty sure the statue is Martin Luther.