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Jump to navigationJump to searchNew page: Image:lighterstill.jpg frame|<center>Drawing of Erfurt in the [[Nuremberg Chronicle (1493)</center>]] '''Erfurt'''ˈɛɐ̯fʊɐ̯t is a city in centr...
[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]]
[[Image:Schedel erfurt.jpg|frame|<center>Drawing of Erfurt in the [[Nuremberg Chronicle]] (1493)</center>]]
'''Erfurt'''ˈɛɐ̯fʊɐ̯t is a [[city]] in central [[Germany]]. It is the [[capital]] of the state of [[Thuringia]] with a population of 202,619 (2006).
Erfurt is located 100 km SW of [[Leipzig]], 113 km SE of [[Kassel]] and 180 km SE of [[Hannover]]. [[Erfurt Airport]] can be reached by plane via [[Munich]], [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Hamburg]].
==Geography==
Since the [[Reunification of Germany]] on [[October 3]], [[1990]], Erfurt is the main city nearest to the geographical centre of the country. It lies in the southern part of the [[Thuringian Basin]], within the wide valley of [[Gera River]], a tributary of the [[Unstrut]]. To the south, the city is surrounded by hilly forest ("Steigerwald").
==History==
Erfurt was first mentioned in 742 under the name of "Erphesfurt". It was an important trading town during the [[Middle Ages]] near a [[ford (river)|ford]] across the Gera river. Together with the other five Thuringian [[woad]]-towns of [[Gotha (town)|Gotha]], [[Tennstedt]], [[Arnstadt]] and [[Langensalza]] it was the centre of the German [[woad]] trade.
In 1349, during the wave of [[pogrom]]s which followed the [[Black Plague]] across Europe, the [[Jew]]s of Erfurt were rounded up, with more than 100 killed and the rest driven from the city, and the [[ghetto]] burned. Recently, the remains of the medieval [[synagogue]] have been discovered beneath newer buildings, and are being restored.
In 1392 the [[University of Erfurt]] was founded, which was famous in its time, became defunct in 1816, and was refounded in 1994 by the Thuringian state parliament.
Erfurt became part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] in 1802, part of the [[First French Empire]] in 1806 as [[Principality of Erfurt]], and was returned to Prussia in 1815 after the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Although enclosed by Thuringian territory, the city remained part of the Prussian [[Province of Saxony]] until 1944. The city was the site of the failed [[Erfurt Union]] of German states in 1850.
On [[April 12]], [[1945]], during [[World War II]], Erfurt was taken by units of the [[Third United States Army|U.S. Third Army]] under General [[George Patton]]. On [[July 3]], American troops left the city and it was occupied by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]]. In contrast to most other major German cities, Erfurt suffered only limited damage from Allied air raids during the war. Erfurt fell in the [[Soviet Zone]] of occupation, which would later become [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]].
After [[German reunification]], Erfurt became the capital of the re-established [[States of Germany|state]] of [[Thuringia]].
On [[April 26]], [[2002]], the student Robert Steinhäuser killed thirteen teachers, two students, a police officer and himself at Erfurt's Gutenberg-[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] school (see [[Erfurt massacre]]).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erfurt]
[[Category: General Reference]]
[[Category: Geography]]
[[Image:Schedel erfurt.jpg|frame|<center>Drawing of Erfurt in the [[Nuremberg Chronicle]] (1493)</center>]]
'''Erfurt'''ˈɛɐ̯fʊɐ̯t is a [[city]] in central [[Germany]]. It is the [[capital]] of the state of [[Thuringia]] with a population of 202,619 (2006).
Erfurt is located 100 km SW of [[Leipzig]], 113 km SE of [[Kassel]] and 180 km SE of [[Hannover]]. [[Erfurt Airport]] can be reached by plane via [[Munich]], [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Hamburg]].
==Geography==
Since the [[Reunification of Germany]] on [[October 3]], [[1990]], Erfurt is the main city nearest to the geographical centre of the country. It lies in the southern part of the [[Thuringian Basin]], within the wide valley of [[Gera River]], a tributary of the [[Unstrut]]. To the south, the city is surrounded by hilly forest ("Steigerwald").
==History==
Erfurt was first mentioned in 742 under the name of "Erphesfurt". It was an important trading town during the [[Middle Ages]] near a [[ford (river)|ford]] across the Gera river. Together with the other five Thuringian [[woad]]-towns of [[Gotha (town)|Gotha]], [[Tennstedt]], [[Arnstadt]] and [[Langensalza]] it was the centre of the German [[woad]] trade.
In 1349, during the wave of [[pogrom]]s which followed the [[Black Plague]] across Europe, the [[Jew]]s of Erfurt were rounded up, with more than 100 killed and the rest driven from the city, and the [[ghetto]] burned. Recently, the remains of the medieval [[synagogue]] have been discovered beneath newer buildings, and are being restored.
In 1392 the [[University of Erfurt]] was founded, which was famous in its time, became defunct in 1816, and was refounded in 1994 by the Thuringian state parliament.
Erfurt became part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] in 1802, part of the [[First French Empire]] in 1806 as [[Principality of Erfurt]], and was returned to Prussia in 1815 after the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. Although enclosed by Thuringian territory, the city remained part of the Prussian [[Province of Saxony]] until 1944. The city was the site of the failed [[Erfurt Union]] of German states in 1850.
On [[April 12]], [[1945]], during [[World War II]], Erfurt was taken by units of the [[Third United States Army|U.S. Third Army]] under General [[George Patton]]. On [[July 3]], American troops left the city and it was occupied by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]]. In contrast to most other major German cities, Erfurt suffered only limited damage from Allied air raids during the war. Erfurt fell in the [[Soviet Zone]] of occupation, which would later become [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]].
After [[German reunification]], Erfurt became the capital of the re-established [[States of Germany|state]] of [[Thuringia]].
On [[April 26]], [[2002]], the student Robert Steinhäuser killed thirteen teachers, two students, a police officer and himself at Erfurt's Gutenberg-[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] school (see [[Erfurt massacre]]).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erfurt]
[[Category: General Reference]]
[[Category: Geography]]
