SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1: London to Erfurt by train

Travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, on an early morning departure.

Upon reaching Brussels travel onwards to Erfurt, changing trains again in Cologne and Frankfurt. Check in to your hotel in Erfurt for 5 nights.

Days 2 to 5: In Erfurt

Erfurt is filled with beautiful buildings which pay testament to its fascinating history. Perhaps start your day by visiting the food market which takes place in the morning from Monday to Saturday in Domplatz, the largest square in the city. Here you can buy traditional German food such as sausages, cheeses and honey, as well as some exotic delicacies.

Overlooking this square is the Gothic Erfurt Cathedral. The Cathedral itself was built mostly in the 14th and 15th centuries, but there has been a religious building here since St Boniface founded a church in 742 AD. The medieval art inside the cathedral is almost all original, from its tracery windows to the Wolfram candelabra dating from around the 12th century.

Right in the centre of the city is the Zitadelle Petersberg, the best-preserved Baroque city fortress in Central Europe. Founded in 1665, this site was turned into a tourist attraction after Germany’s reunification and now offers amazing views of the city from its parapet wall.

Other historical buildings of interest include the Augustinerkloster, where Martin Luther became a monk and stayed between 1505 and 1511, and the Old Synagogue, which is the best preserved medieval synagogue in Europe. The Angermuseum, housed in a beautiful Baroque building, features an extensive range of art from the Middle Ages to the present day.

We highly recommend using your time in Erfurt to venture out and explore the railway routes of the Thuringian Forest. The Werra Railway between Eisenach and Eisfeld, via Meiningen, runs mostly along the river of the same name and is one of the oldest railway lines in Germany. Start your journey by taking one of the regular direct trains from Erfurt to Eisenach. This town was the birthplace of composer Johann Sebastian Bach, and is worth a stop in its own right to visit the Wartburg Castle, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon leaving Eisenach you will continue alongside the river through the Werra Valley, a landscape of lush rolling fields.

The next main stop is Meiningen, where we recommend disembarking to change to another of the main railway lines, the Ritschenhausen-Neudietendorf line. Meiningen is home to an Elizabethan castle and multiple museums, including the Theatre Museum which provides an insight into the history of the Meiningen theatre, a tradition going back almost 250 years. The Ritschenhausen-Neudietendorf line is much more steeply graded than the Werra Railway, as it climbs into and across the Thuringian Forest mountains. You will also travel through the 1 mile long Brandleite tunnel which took almost four years to build. This will take you to Arnstadt in the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest mountains. Perhaps take the time here to explore the working railway museum, before returning via the stunning scenery to your base in Erfurt.

The final railway line is the Schwarzatalbahn. This line runs for less than 19 miles yet takes in incredible scenery as it passes through the Thuringian Forest and mountain terrain from Rinnetal, through Tal der Schwarza, before reaching its terminus at Katzhütte. Roughly halfway along the route you will reach Obstfelderschmiede, the starting point of the Oberweißbacher funicular railway. This mountain railway climbs at a 45 degree incline and will take you to the top of Oberweißenbach Hill, where you can take in magnificent views of the surrounding area.

Day 6: Erfurt to London by train

On the final day depart by train from Erfurt to Brussels at about quarter past 8 in the morning, changing trains in Frankfurt and Cologne.

Check in for your Eurostar in Brussels which will take you back to London, arriving in St Pancras in the evening.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This price includes second class rail travel, with supplement for first class and standard premier on Eurostar of about £320 per person.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information, including full directions and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your trip.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.