Augustinerkloster
Erfurt, Germany
Page 3 - Monastery tours, library, and directions
Continued from page 2

ABOVE: Cloister courtyard of the Augustinian Monastery.

Monastery tours

Tours of the monastery and church normally take place from Monday to Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. (No 4 p.m. tour in winter.) On Sundays, the only tour is at 11 a.m. You can sign up at the monastery reception desk or in the Klosterstube café.

The tour includes a visit to the "Bible - Monastery - Luther" exhibit, which opened in 2002 and occupies the former monks' quarters. (Interestingly, the monks studied or worked in their cells but slept outside their cell doors in the hall.) One cell has been furnished as it might have looked in Luther's time. You can view the exhibit without taking the monastery tour.

Another option is to visit the monastery and church with an English-speaking guide from the Erfurt Tourist Information office during a walking tour of the historic center.

Historische Bibliotek

The monastery's Historic Library is open from Monday to Friday. Its 60,000 volumes include some 3,500 books from the 17th Century and 100 manuscripts from the 12th through the 18th Centuries. For more information, including opening hours and an e-mail link, see the "Bibliotek" page at the Augustinerkloster's Web site (which is listed on this article's Web links page).

Directions to the Augustinerkloster

The Augustinian Church and Monastery is in the historic center of Erfurt, about 10 minutes on foot from the city tourist office and the cathedral. It's clearly marked on local tourist maps. If you're coming from the railroad station, look for tram "1 - Grubenstraβe" or "5 - Zoo" and get off at Augustinerstraβe. Turn left from the streetcar line and walk a block to 10 Augustinerstraβe.

If you're driving, follow the Juri-Gagarin-Ring to Fraanckestraβe, which leads into Augustinerstraβe. The monastery has 14 parking places, and there's a parking fee. (Unless you're spending the night, it may be more convenient to park on the edge of the historic center and walk the short distance to the Augustinerkloster.)

Next page: Accommodations, café

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