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State in Germany
Photo: The original uploader was Zyonig at English Wikipedia., CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Thuringia (German: Thüringen) is one of the least known German states amongst foreign travellers but enjoys a good reputation with local holidaymakers. Covering an area of 16,171 km² with a population of approximately 2.1 million, the region is predominantly mountainous and forested. It is also known for a quartet of beautiful ancient cities and the Wartburg Castle, a UNESCO world heritage site and erstwhile refuge of Martin Luther that is regarded by Germans as one of the most important castles in the country.
By train
Thuringia is surprisingly well connected on the railway network and thanks to the quirky nature of German federalism the new Berlin-Munich high speed mainline has passed through Erfurt since 2017,…
By bus
Long distance bus travel in Germany is a relatively new phenomenon as it was legalized only at the beginning of the 2010s and thus the market is still evolving.
By car
The A4 crosses the middle of the state east-west providing access from Dresden and Gießen.
Public transport is for the most part good, fast and reliable. If you plan to do a day trip the "Thüringen-Ticket" might just be what you are looking for.
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Erfurt · International · ERF
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the state capital features one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Germany. The central square is dominated by the Cathedral and St. Severi Church; the city is also known for the Krämerbrücke, an inhabited bridge lined with artisan shops and cafes, and serves as the primary travel hub for the region
the city is closely associated with the German Enlightenment and the Bauhaus movement. As the former residence of Goethe and Schiller, the city contains a high concentration of UNESCO World Heritage sites and serves as a center for classical literature, philosophy, and design history
at the western edge of the Thuringian Forest, the site of the Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament. The city is the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach and features museums dedicated to automotive history
a center for science and industry nestled in the Saale valley, shaped by its long-standing university tradition and optical companies like Carl Zeiss. The city reflects its history as a residence of Goethe and Schiller alongside its modern industrial architecture
formerly the capital of an independent principality, features the extensive Friedenstein Palace, one of the largest early Baroque palaces in Germany. The city historically contributed to the development of natural sciences and mapmaking
a center of the Peasants' War under Thomas Müntzer, features a preserved town wall and several historic churches, and has historical connections to composer J.S. Bach and John Augustus Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn Bridge
on the southern slopes of the Harz mountains, serves as a gateway to the northern region. It is known for its tradition of producing Doppelkorn schnapps and is a starting point for the Harz narrow-gauge railway
the primary urban center of the Thuringian Forest, with a long history of firearms production and metalworking. Today, the city serves as a hub for hikers and skiers accessing the surrounding highland trails
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