Leisurely stroll through our towns and cities

When you think of Erfurt, the first thing that comes to mind is of course the picturesque Krämerbrücke and the imposing cathedral. But at second glance, visitors to the Thuringian capital quickly realise that it has so much more to offer than the famous old town. And it precisely these lesser-known beauties that we want to dedicate ourselves to today, with a city tour through green Erfurt. Contrary to expectations, our tour guide is not made of flesh and bone but, rather, accompanies us in the form of the city-tour case, erfurt.unboxed.

With its palm trees, olive trees and eleven parks and themed gardens, Bad Langensalza truly is a verdant town.

What's going on over there? On Altenburg's oldest market square, the Brühl, four gentlemen are embroiled in a heated argument. Luckily, not fisticuffs. Four "Wenzel" are trying to outdo each other.

“Paths are silent guides,” says Andreas Pahl, quoting the great landscape gardener Prince Pückler and points to a romantic, moss-covered stone structure flanked by a curved bridge – a picture-perfect ruin. The spruce trees nearby were by no means coincidental either. Weimar’s green spaces are admirable!

Margret Most moves with precision. Her experienced hands reach for the plants in the pots and place them in the circular bed, a real eye-catcher that sits slightly elevated next to Altenstein Castle. Over the course of a few days, it will begin to resemble a colourful, almost mosaic-like carpet of plants.

Lots of green spaces, easy to get around, a vibrant student scene. Plus culture and restaurants in abundance and a surrounding region that’s perfect for cycling and walking. And all set within a mediterranean landscape, dotted with castles and palaces. Welcome to paradise – welcome to Jena.

When the days get longer and the evenings warmer, the whole of Erfurt rejoices - and beats as the spirited heart of a great, urban summertime happiness ... from sunrise to the early hours.

The evening sun peeks out from beneath the clouds, bathing Jena in a soft red glow. All of a sudden, the rain of the day is forgotten. A warm gust of wind carries with it the beautiful sound of singing from below: Dutch singer Caro Emerald is giving a concert in the theatre square on this Friday evening in July.

To see as much as possible in the shortest possible time. Those were my friend Charlotte’s stipulations for our weekend trip. She’s keen on cute towns with a medieval vibe – cobbled streets, half-timbered buildings and enchanting little lanes are very much her thing. They’re totally instagrammable, as she is fond of saying. It just so happens that this fits in really well with the break I had planned anyway: hopping from town to town enjoying a bit of culture along the way. So off we go!