Petersberg Citadel, Erfurt, Germany

The Petersberg Citadel is one of the largest extant early-modern citadels in Europe and covers the whole north-western part of the Erfurt city centre. It was built after 1665 on Petersberg hill and was in military use until 1963. It dates from a time when Erfurt was ruled by the Electors of Mainz and is a unique example of the European style of fortress construction. Beneath the citadel is an underground maze of passageways that can be visited on guided tours organised by Erfurt Tourist Office.

The citadel was originally built on the site of a medieval Benedictine Monastery and the earliest parts of the complex date from the 12th century. Erfurt has also been ruled by Sweden, Prussia, Napoleon, the German Empire, the Nazis, and post-World War II Soviet occupying forces, and it was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). All of these regimes used Petersberg Citadel and had an influence on its development. The baroque fortress was in military use until 1963. Since German reunification in 1990, the citadel has undergone significant restoration and it is now open to the public as a historic site.

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Erfurt Tourism

User Reviews

Dani Heinrich (6 years ago)
Definitely don’t miss the views over the city from up here - especially at night when the cathedral is lit up.

Jisha C P (6 years ago)
A beautiful place to take a stroll and view the city.

Alessandro Alberucci (7 years ago)
Nice view on the whole city

Zdeněk Horák (7 years ago)
Nice place. Strong Genius loci. Full of young people. Especially during the sunset you will enjoy beeing there.

Brett Gottfried (7 years ago)
This large complex was used as a military installation all the way up until the wall fell in Germany. Now it is but a relic and it has a couple of museums as well. The area is great for a quiet walk around the grassy hill to get a good look at the town.

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Historic Site of the week

Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

Petersberg Citadel

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Sigmaringen Castle