The Foundation

Krämerbrücke Foundation

After the peaceful revolution in 1989, the question of what is to be done with the Merchants’ Bridge was completely revisited. Although it had actually survived the socialist planned economy quite well, it was still in need of redevelopment, as was the entire city centre of Erfurt.

On the one hand, there were many structural challenges and the desire to promote art, culture, handicrafts, and a regional focus instead of allowing chain stores and corporations to open their stores on the Merchants’ Bridge. On the other hand, the Merchants’ Bridge also had to establish a healthy commercial activity and sustainable economic viability. After all, the bridge did not get its name as a place of merchants and trade for nothing. In view of this complex situation, the idea of bundling all responsibilities under one roof prevailed. In 1996, the city council decided to transfer the buildings, most of which were already owned by the city of Erfurt at the time, together with the bridge that supported them, to a foundation.

At the time, the Board of Trustees consisted of five representatives from the city (Lord Mayor, Building Commissioner, and one representative from each of the three political groups represented on the City Council). In addition, there was one representative each from the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology, the owners of the private houses, the tenants, and the German Foundation for Monument Protection. A board elected from this group implemented the committee's decisions.

Since then, the Merchants’ Bridge Foundation has been responsible for the preservation of this extraordinary monument, which is permanently inhabited and revitalised by art and trade. In this matter the Merchants’ Bridge Foundation is supported by the German Foundation for Monument Protection and its fiduciarily managed Elisabeth and Fritz Thayssen Foundation.

In house number 31 on the bridge, ‘Haus der Stiftungen’, you can inform yourself demonstratively on this topic. There you can find many publications, a permanent exhibition with a model of the bridge (scale 1:100), a medieval plank room from around 1578/79 and a walk-in cellar in one of the bridge's arches.

In addition to structural matters, the foundation council is also concerned with preserving the typical character of the Merchants’ Bridge. Interested parties for one of the shops approach the Board of Trustees with their concepts and are to this day selected with a view to art, culture, handicrafts, uniqueness, and a regional focus.

Contact for interested parties: Mr Ludwig, lew.ludwig@erfurt.de

Further information on the Krämerbrücke Foundation