Kornhofspeicher

Hidden within Erfurt’s Andreasviertel stands the Kornhofspeicher. It’s a silent giant, whispering tales of medieval prosperity. The Kornhofspeicher wasn’t always a parking garage. It was built between 1465 and 1467. The city council commissioned it. They needed a place to store grain collected as taxes. This wasn’t the first granary in Erfurt. Records show one existed as early as 1354, near St. Nicholas Church. But Erfurt was booming in the 15th century. The city needed more storage. The old granaries simply weren’t big enough. So they chose the site of a former Jewish cemetery near Moritztor. Imagine the activity. Workers hauling timber and stone, constructing this massive building. It took two years to build, opening in 1467, with final touches completed in 1469. The total cost? A hefty 4764 Schock. The Kornhofspeicher is impressive. It stretches over 80 meters long and about 25 meters wide. It covers nearly 1800 square meters. Look up and count the 21 window axes along its length. Picture the original Krüppelwalmdach covered with beaver tails. Inside, four stories rose beneath the roof, supported by an almost entirely original four-aisled wooden framework. This structure boosted Erfurt’s grain storage capacity significantly. It jumped from 4227 Malter in 1429 to an impressive 7139 Malter. This speaks volumes about Erfurt’s growth and importance as a trading hub. The Kornhofspeicher stood as a testament to the city’s foresight. The Kornhofspeicher sat empty for years. Several ideas for its use were proposed and discarded. Finally, a private investor bought it. They planned to convert it into a parking garage. The exterior would be preserved. The historic wooden structure inside would remain visible. But a 2009 inspection revealed a serious woodworm infestation. In May 2010, the building underwent treatment to save it. The conversion finally began. It was delayed briefly by a dispute about access routes. Today, the Kornhofspeicher serves as a parking garage, holding up to 90 cars. It stands as a fascinating blend of old and new, a reminder of Erfurt’s rich history.