Erfurt, Germany

The capital of Thuringia is a charming and lively town that lies just 45km south of the geographical centre of reunified Germany. It's most notable as the place where Martin Luther studied and became a monk, essentially planting the roots that set into motion the Protestant Reformation. It's also the rare city in the center of Germany that emerged relatively unscathed from World War II, after which it became stuck in the strange cocoon of East German communism for half a century. Because of this, Erfurt has a surprising time-capsule quality.

Erfurt was founded by St Boniface as a bishopric in 742, and was catapulted to prominence and prosperity in the Middle Ages when it began producing a precious blue pigment from the woad plant. However, due to a fire that raged through the city in 1472, none of its surviving buildings date from before the 15th century. In 1392, rich merchants founded the university, allowing students to study common law, not religious law. Its most famous graduate was Martin Luther, who studied philosophy here between 1501 and 1505.

Its numerous architectural gems include a spectacular cathedral and monastery, some lovely winding streets in the restored Altstadt (Old Town) and one of Europe’s most interesting bridges. Despite being Germany’s geographical heartland, an international atmosphere pervades the capital; it has a lively student and cultural scene and is a good springboard for exploring other parts of Thuringia.