Fotoeins Fotografie

Erfurt is located near the geographic centre of Germany, and is called the “Rome of Thuringia” for the number of church steeples in the city. Even if being in the middle depends on how borders, especially post-reunification borders, are defined, there are five towns vying for the title “Mittelpunkt Deutschlands” (Germany’s centre), depending upon the technique used to determine where the centre might be.

But Erfurt’s been at the “centre of action” for centuries, in the midst of the “Via Regia” (royal road) dating centuries back to the heyday of the Holy Roman Empire, traditional woad (blue-dye) production, the movement of trade and people along the east-west transeuropean highway, religious pilgrims back and forth and beyond to Santiago de Compostela, Martin Luther stopping by to give an update on the Reformation, and even, Bach’s parents getting married here in town.

It’s easy to overlook Erfurt, but giving this city a chance allows it to sneak up on you. The following Instagram shots provide reasons why you should embrace the sneaky bits.

Thanks to Germany Tourism, Thüringen Tourismus, and the Erfurt Tourism and Marketing Board for support and access to places and activities; and to Mercure Hotel Erfurt Altstadt for their generous hospitality. I made the photos above 26 and 29 April 2015. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com as http://wp.me/p1BIdT-6LM.