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An imposing fortress
Petersberg Citadel in Erfurt
The very sight of the formidable jagged walls of the fortress hints that great things have taken place at the Petersberg Citadel. It was once the site of an important abbey, and later became one of the – at least when construction began – most modern bastions in Europe, visited by powerful men such as Napoleon Bonaparte. Today, you can explore history in a most adventurous way in the citadel.
Located near the cathedral and the Krämerbrücke bridge, the Petersberg Citadel is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Erfurt’s old town – and one of the most interesting. The former defensive fortification and the towerless Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which once belonged to the Benedictine abbey, sit enthroned on the hill and are impossible to overlook. The extensive grounds delight visitors with lovingly laid out park-like areas – you absolutely must take a selfie with the word Erfurt that adorns the steep path upwards, spelled out in flowers. If you would like an easier option, take the glass lift and enjoy the view of the city and the Steigerwald.
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Mysterious underworld
A tour through the Leonard Bastion, one of the tapering defensive areas, to the underground listening tunnels is spectacular: after locations that are well worth seeing such as the soldier’s bedchamber, it will take you past embrasures, down 40 high stone steps into the depths of the fortress walls – whilst you burn with curiosity. What awaits you down there? Among other things, there is a completely quite and dark room for you to discover. There was once a cistern concealed in the floor – the on-site water supply was more valuable than any treasure could have been.
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The construction of citadels ...
... was skilfully calculated according to the idea that an attack above ground appeared impossible. An incursion through tunnels was more likely. To prevent this in time, watchmen patrolled underground passages and listened out for sounds that suggested digging.
You give the orders
“An exciting journey through time” is the slogan of the multimedia exhibition on the eventful history of the Petersberg. Get active and delve deeper into the history: in the commander’s room on the casemate level, you can, for example, take part in a digital card game, one of the soldiers’ favourite antidotes to boredom. At another station, you can fend off an attack – do you know the best strategy? In the vaulted area, you can find out much more about the life of the soldiers and about important personalities of the time.
One hill, countless stories
One floor higher in the exhibition, everything initially revolves around the myth of the hill and the Benedictine St. Peter’s Abbey, of which only the church still remains. And around how the Thirty Years’ War was experienced at the abbey. As the exhibition continues, the interactive stations are really good fun, especially when they relate to the construction of the citadel.
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Construction of the Baroque military stronghold began in 1665
It was intended to be a model of unprecedented defensive possibilities. For financial reasons, however, the project took more than 70 years. Therefore, by the time that it was completed, fortress no longer met the demands of an effective defence – weapons had long since advanced. It was lucky that there were no attacks in the intervening period.
The various development phases are presented vividly, and parallels are drawn with similar constructions. Particularly impressive are the fragments of wood, plaster and paint that are displayed behind glass and the mud and straw structures from the walls. Some of them are more than 350 years old.
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Who was behind it?
Local architects played a part, as did architects from further afield such as Maximilian von Welsch from Mainz. He based his work on the famous French fortifications of General Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a military engineer under King Louis XIV who designed many buildings that are now UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Italian Antonio Petrini also made his mark. He was one of the best known master builders of the Franconian Baroque style – the simpler variant of the sumptuous style that is familiar to us from churches and palaces.
Closely interwoven with the city’s history
One exhibition area is dedicated to the capture of Erfurt by the Kingdom of Prussia and the French Empire. Other sections show other far-reaching events from the very beginning to the present day. The room-sized showpiece even offers the option of dealing with the original use of the building in a fun way – see what happens when you select keywords such as bread, powder or timber yard.
Gardens for an inner paradise
The atmosphere of the wonderful exhibition “Gardens of Paradise | Garden Paradises” in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul allows you to completely unwind. Originally built in the 12th century, it is the oldest building on the Petersberg, all that remains of the former abbey – and also the largest Romanesque structure in Thuringia. The interplay of the historically sacred interior, the innovative installations and the acoustic concept is extremely fascinating.
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Paradise Tree Erfurt
My leaf - Our tree
Become part of the paradise tree, a tree sculpture made of copper and steel with around 75,000 names written on olive leaves, which stand for peace and reconciliation. Simply ask at the visitor centre.
You are sure to like this: a walk through the charming Commander’s Garden, leading to the monumental bridge to the Martin Bastion. Some days, a wine bar is open there – come and enjoy a sundowner! Or end your visit to the citadel in the “Glashütte Petersberg” restaurant – from the glass building or the terrace, you have a wonderful view of nature and Erfurt’s old town.
Header Picture: St. Peter's Gate with a view of the cathedral, ©Florian Trykowski, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH
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