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Luther Trail Tour Tip: 'Luther's silence' – Cycle tour Erfurt – Weimar – Jena

Bicycle Rides · Erfurt
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  • Augustinerkloster Erfurt Bibliothek
    Augustinerkloster Erfurt Bibliothek
    Photo: Paul Hentschel, Thüringen-entdecken.de
A picturesque cycle tour through the Thuringian Basin on the Thuringian Chain-of-Towns Cycle Trail from Erfurt to the university town of Jena.
moderate
Distance 49.6 km
6:30 h
320 m
366 m
328 m
148 m
Take this discovery tour of around 50 km and get to know three towns that were influential and important to the reformer. The cycle tour starts in Erfurt where Martin Luther completed his studies and later became a monk. The Augustinian Monastery in the old town is one of the best-known Lutheran sites after the town of Wittenberg and Wartburg Castle.

The first section takes you to Weimar. Luther often came here as a young monk on behalf of his order, and he frequently stopped there on his numerous journeys through central Germany. His last visit was in 1540 to see his very sick friend Philip Melanchthon, who made a miraculous recovery after Luther’s visit.

Almost 300 years later, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said this about Luther:

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Luther and the Reformation in general. We are free of the shackles of spiritual narrow-mindedness, and as a result of our continuously growing culture we have been able to return to the source and grasp Christianity in all its pureness. We once again have the courage to stand firmly on God’s earth and to sense ourselves in our God-given human nature.”

The second section of the cycle tour leads from the town of Melanchthon and Cranach along the River Ilm, through fields and meadows into the Kernberge mountain range and the town of Jena, which Luther visited at least eleven times. This is where he settled a score with a former ally, Andreas Bodenstein (known as Karlstadt), who instead of choosing Luther’s non-violent route to Reformation encouraged the people to attack monasteries and other religious institutions. The University of Jena, founded in 1558, is also a product of the Reformation, albeit a late one.

From the tower of the town church – where Luther preached and where his bronze gravestone is displayed – you can get a good view of the individual stations of the Luther Trail, which criss-crosses the town.

Author’s recommendation

You must visit Goethe’s Garden House, a favourite place of the famous German poet, in the Ilm Park in Weimar.
Profile picture of Paul Hentschel
Author
Paul Hentschel
Update: May 24, 2023
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
328 m
Lowest point
148 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 38.62%Dirt road 22.08%Forested/wild trail 8.24%Road 30.21%Unknown 0.72%
Asphalt
19.1 km
Dirt road
10.9 km
Forested/wild trail
4.1 km
Road
15 km
Unknown
0.4 km
Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Gasthaus Feuerkugel - Erfurt
Mittelalterrestaurant "Lutherkeller" - Erfurt
Hotel Elephant, a luxury Collection Hotel - Weimar
Hotel & Gaststätte "Zur Noll" - Jena
Hotel Schwarzer Bär**** - Jena

Safety information

The cycle tour uses some public roads. Please make sure that your bicycle conforms to national road traffic regulations.

Tips and hints

The Thuringian Chain-of-Towns Cycle Trail stretches from West to East to the federal border of Thuringia. The entire route for a multi-day trip can be found here.

Start

Augustinian Monastery – Erfurt (190 m)
Coordinates:
DD
50.981605, 11.029673
DMS
50°58'53.8"N 11°01'46.8"E
UTM
32U 642471 5649740
w3w 
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Destination

St Michael's Church - Jena

Turn-by-turn directions

Augustinian Monastery Erfurt – Azmannsdorf – Vieselbach – Wallichen – Niederzimmern – Hopfgarten – Tröbsdorf – Weimar – Ehringsdorf – Mellingen – Lehnstedt – Kleinschwabhausen – Großschwabhausen – Jena

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

You can get to Erfurt from anywhere in Germany via Deutsche Bahn. Once you arrive in Erfurt, take tram number 1 (towards Europaplatz) or number 5 (towards Zoopark) to get to the Augustinian Monastery. Timetable information (Germany only)

You can travel back from Jena using the DB Regio trains. Timetable

By road

From the A4, take exit 46 ‘Erfurt-West’ towards Erfurt via Arnstädter Straße. Cross Schillerstraße at the Kaffeetrichter intersection and continue onto Juri-Gagarin-Ring. Turn right until Boyneburgufer and then continue straight ahead on ‘Am Hügel’. At the end of the ring, turn left into Augustinerstraße.

Parking

Please use the car park on Huttenplatz. Link

Coordinates

DD
50.981605, 11.029673
DMS
50°58'53.8"N 11°01'46.8"E
UTM
32U 642471 5649740
w3w 
///peanut.podcast.stuffy
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Author’s map recommendations

A guide to the Thuringian Chain-of-Towns Cycle Trail can be purchased at the Thuringia tourist infomation point at Erfurt Station (http://bit.ly/29Xn9iG).

Equipment

Lightweight luggage, drink

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Difficulty
moderate
Distance
49.6 km
Duration
6:30 h
Ascent
320 m
Descent
366 m
Highest point
328 m
Lowest point
148 m
Public-transport-friendly Scenic Cultural/historical interest Linear route Family-friendly Cableway ascent/descent

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  • 76 Waypoints
  • 76 Waypoints
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