Erfurt Christmas Market

Erfurt Christmas Market – For those who want to visit one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany on their next city break, the Christmas market in Thuringias capital Erfurt is one of the most worthwhile options.

From now on until December 22nd, the “Green Heart of Germany” awaits you right on time for the Christmas season with its true firework of impressions, since Erfurt scores next to his historical sights with a perfectly organized Christmas market on a spectacular, medieval setting.

Hold on the traditional cathedral square in Erfurt, you can find polyphonic Christmas acoustics, delicious mulled wine and a magical enchanted forest, all surmounted ny a 25 m tall, festively decorated Christmas tree and, nearly half as large, an original Christmas pyramid from the Erzgebirge.

And the hustle and bustle doesn`t only happen at the Cathedral Square, since once you get there, it seems like that the Christmas market in Erfurt enlarges over the whole inner city – such as the 200 festively decorated wooden houses which encourages to stop by on a walk from the Cathedral to the Anger.

Original Thuringian specialties like the Thuringian “Schittchen” (delicious Christmas cake, the official season kick off was celebrated past Saturday) and the infamous Thuringian bratwurst will catch your addition: More recently, a special “Eco- Bakery” invites adults and kids as well to make their own home baking cookies.

Erfurt Christmas Market opening times

Sun – Wed: 10 am – 8 pm
Thursday – Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm

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Pic: © sd

Octoberfest Erfurt: German Beer Festival at the Cathedral Square

Octoberfest Erfurt: German Beer Festival at the Cathedral Square – The Oktoberfest in Munich may be the best known event called “Oktoberfest” in Germany – but nevertheless, its counterpart in Thuringias capital Erfurt is a noteworthy event.

Scheduled for the period from 25 September to 10 October 2010, the Octoberfest Erfurt will take place at the imposing Cathedral Square, where performers, fast rides as well as the central point of the event, the huge marquee, are waiting for curious visitors.

On every day of the Octoberfest from 6 pm, various artists perform live music, which can be considered as the perfect complement to the numerous rides and game booths.

The start of Erfurt`s Octoberfest (Saturday, 25/09/2010) will be performed by a consortium consisting of the Lord Mayor of Erfurt, the festival host, the representative of the brewery as well as members of the festival committee.

And according to the tradition of past events, they will arrive on the fairground around 6 pm, sitting in lovely designed horse-drawn carriages, to open the Oktoberfest 2010 by tapping the first beer barrel sponsored by the Thuringian brewery “Braugold”.

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Pic: © zug

Erfurt city trip: Merchant`s Bridge Festival

Erfurt city trip: Merchant`s Bridge Festival – With the annual “Krämerbrückenfest” (Merchant`s Bridge Festival), the city of Erfurt celebrates a medieval festival of superlatives since 1975, which scores besides the stunnung atmosphere with lots of arts and crafts of bygone eras.

Known as the ideal opportunity to visit the capital of the “Green Heart of Germany” Thuringia, interested visitors can expect picturesque streets, historic squares and imposing buildings in between Domplatz, Wenigemarkt and around the Merchants Bridge all located in the medieval Old Town.

The festival, which will take place from 06/18/2010 to 06/20/2010, comes up further with culturally sophisticated contributions and al lot of medieval theater, artists, jugglers and musicians.

As the highlight of the entire event, the famous medieval market offers traditional goods from original Thuringian craftsmen – all in a historic setting with specially designed tents, huts and inspiring costumes.

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Pic: © gm

Thuringia Tourism recorded significant increases

The Thuringian accommodation establishments have recorded significant increases in April. As the National Statistical Office announced on Tuesday, the number of overnight stays increased – comparing to last year`s April – by 10.6 percent to 707 000. Also, the number of visitors increased. Here, the statisticians calculated a rise of 5.1 percent to 254 000.

The exceptionally good results in the travel sector of the Thuringian Forest can be considered as a crucial reason for this positive development. Here, the number of visitors increased by 11.7 percent and the number of overnight stays by 17.5 percent.

Overall, the accommodation establishments in Thuringia can look back on  a successful winter season (November to April). Both arrivals and overnight stays increased in comparison with the corresponding prior-year period by 2.1 percent to 1.3 million and 3.6 million.

The Oktoberfest in Thuringia – Beer and Tradition

History

The Oktoberfest has its origins in the wedding between the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and the Princess Therese of Thuringia on October 12th in 1810. Since then, a big celebration took place every year in Munich – the festival you might associate with the term “Oktoberfest”. But after the German reunion, this historical fact let to an advancing awereness in Thuringia for having an own Oktoberfest at the tradition-rich green state!

The Oktoberfest at the Cathedral Square, Erfurt

Especially the medieval-breathed city of Erfurt is predestinated to celebrate this important folk festival. According to the Munich pendant, the Oktoberfest in Thuringias capital kicked of in autumn, and this year from the 26.09. – 12.10. at the Cathedral Square.

Shows and entertainment reached from nostalgia to modern rides, but also a large marquee provided variety and fun for the whole family. It all started officially – like the years before – with the Bock beer tapping by the mayor – and from this point, the celebration had its centre of attraction right there.

Another real attraction was the world’s largest portable Ferris wheel “Bellevue”. The enclosed gondolas ride up to 56 meters in height. Further, a lot of spectacular carousel rides invited visitors – and among other things, for the first time a ghost train, where guests were shaked and tipped in their seats.

Many new visitors from all around the world

Finally, a couple of hundreds of thousands visitors attended the Erfurter Oktoberfest. Statistics from the hotel and lodging sector confirmed also a significant increase in foreign visitors to this popular event – a good sign for even more attractions and rackets in 2009!

Mountain bike marathon & Festival

Mountain bike marathon & Festival at Tabarz: The last event – The rush into the biking season on the last weekend in April exceeded all expectations by far.

According to the perfect weather, about 135 drivers took the downhill route and looked at the pros JD Swanguen (USA) and Mio Suamesa (JPN) from MS Intense Factory Racing team. But not only the international stars came to Tabarz, also the national prominence represented by Antje Kramer, the German champion in downhill, followed the invitation.

At the press conference on Saturday, Soren Schmidt, the chief organizer for the marathon and the downhill, announced a further improvement of cooperation with the municipality Tabarz, who will be the organizer of both upcoming events.

Mountain bike marathon – New Websites

Both the website of Tabarzer marathon as well as the downhill on the Inselsberg are redesigned and given a modern and striking layout.

The revision of the page to Tabarzer Mountain Bike Marathon, fahrrad-schmidt.de/marathon has been completed a few days ago and is available including the online registration for the marathon.

This is also an appropriate site to purchase professional bikes, as well as Fahrrad Erfurt Shop in the region of Thuringia.

Tabarz, Thuringia: New events and partners

Thuringia is always worth a visit, and during the past years especially for marathon or downhill.

Having perceived this new trend, The Thuringia Tourism Company is the new partner and main sponsor of the Tabarz Mountain Bike Marathon on 31.5./1.6. 2008, with his presence to visit the “green heart of Germany”.

The new event will include a kids mountainbike competition, a short race and last but not least, a family program with a brilliant celebration finish.

Through the further development of biking paths and special mountain bike trails around the Inselsberg region, cyclotourists will even find more attractive destinations to enjoy their passion in Thuringia.

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Event Pictures (c) Mountain bike marathon

Easter in the snow

The Rennsteig municipalities are happy that the winter yet taken hold.
Tourists and locals look like the snow kings: Since one week the Rennsteig region presents itself in a magnificent white dress. Not the Christ child, but the Easter Bunny brought, albeit belated, winter sports fun in the western Thuringian Forest.

Meanwhile, South Thuringia supplies an approximately 400 km long network of trails and rambling routes. “People wanted their Easter not just for skiing and running. But hardly anybody is really upset about that. This year, no one is fed up with the snow. There wasn`t so far that much” said Renate Stengel from the Tourist Office Floh-Seligenthal. Even the Brotteroder are pleased with the additional Easter surprise. “People take their chances on our special sport offers. Usually you can`t do such things around this season, “said Dagmar Köllner, the managing director of the Inselberg tourism Inc.