Germany - Day 4

Today, we explored the town of Erfurt, which is an exceptional example of medieval Germany.  Erfurt was spared the intense bombing of many other German cities during World War II and many of the churches and building still survive.  We began in Cathedral Square for a walking tour of the old city.  The narrow cobble stoned streets and shops gave you a real feeling of medieval Europe.  Some of the high points were the Merchant Bridge, which still houses shops, the oldest synagogue in Europe, and the university Martinez Luther attended as a student.  Luther was a true scholar and did well, however, he decided to become a monk rather than become a lawyer as his father wished.  He attributed his change of mind to an experience he had while riding during a thunderstorm.  The storm was so severe that he cried out to St. Anne to save him with the promise that he would become a monk.  He survived the storm and entered the monastery.

After touring the town, we visited both St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Severus Church.  These two massive Gothic churches stand next to each other on Cathedral Square.  St. Severus was established when the convent of canons (women) were asked to leave the cathedral church.  Both churches are impressive.  St. Mary's is where Martin Luther was ordained in 1507.

With the group's energy running down, we broke for lunch.  A number of us enjoyed bratwursts at a local restaurant that served the best bratwursts in the city or so we were told by our guide.  The bratwursts were delicious.  Having refueled, we made our way to the Augustinian Monastery where Martin Luther lived as a monk and served his first Mass.  The life of a monk was demanding.  Rising at 3:00 in the morning, they would worship every three hours until midnight.  The day was filled with work, study, and silence.  It was not a life for the faint of heart.

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the city, taking in the views, and visiting the shops.  There was so much to see and experience.  The weather, once again, was fantastic.  We returned to the hotel tied, but happy.  Tomorrow, we head to Wittenberg.