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Erlangen – City of Baroque and Strong Beer

Cities

Erlangen is known as the place of Bergkirchweih beer festival- the third largest beer festival in Bavaria with its size and scale. The local strong beer is known all over Germany. All the Germans also know that this is "the center of the German Baroque": most buildings in the Baroque style were preserved here. Thanks to this, the center of Erlangen looks lush and elegant.

The first mention of Erlangen dates to 1002 in a feudal gift document under the name of Villa of Erlangon. The quiet country life in it lasted till French Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in their homeland, took fancy to the town in 1686. The university’s transfer here from Bayreuth in 1743 also promoted Erlangen’s development. Physicist Georg Ohm and philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach are among its famous alumni. Today, 25,000 out of 105,000 inhabitants of Erlangen are students. The town is often called the Franconian Berkeley: people come here from all over the world to study and work. It is estimated that nationals of 180 countries live in Erlangen. The town also seriously developed thanks to Siemens. The company manufactures Europe’s best medical equipment here.

Erlangen’s center is considered baroque classic. There are a lot of Baroque monuments here. All the details- the abundance of sculptures on the facades, the fluidity of forms, spectacular columns - give the buildings and streets a magnificent festive look. The XVIII century Margraves Castle (Markgräfliches Schloss) is the most distinguished. Now it is one of the university buildings. The nearby Markgräflerland theatre is the oldest baroque theater in southern Germany. The Church of the Huguenots (Hugenottenkirche) is the first temple built by French Protestants fleeing religious persecution outside France. Other important baroque buildings are marked with special "pins" on the pedestals.

Bergkirchweih, the large beer festival taking place in late spring, is the loudest event in Erlangen. It always begins on Thursday preceding the Trinity. This event is the third largest after Oktoberfest in Munich and Gaüboden in Straubing. During all the 12 holiday days, the 7 degrees local beer, Bergkirchweihbier, flows like water at the foot of Erlangen’s hill and tons of sausages are consumed, combined with loud music and amusement rides. By the way, you can enjoy the famous beer in the town, as well as try the most popular dish here - sausage with potatoes and cabbage on any day.

The medical and academic city of Erlangen that has retained magnificent baroque buildings is surprisingly modern. The bikeways naturally blending with the landscape, a magnificent park at Margraves Castle, founded at the end of the XVIII century, the simple Bible Garden with its sculptures illustrating the Bible, the Botanical Garden at the University make it cozy and comfortable for walking and recreation.