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Erlangen: A planned city of Baroque splendor, academic innovation, and hidden subterranean secrets.

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Four Self-Guided Audio Tours to rediscover Erlangen

A first taste of the best stories the city has to offer. Many more tours are waiting for you.

Tour poster: The Blueprint of Refuge: Erlangen's Two Planned Cities
Tour 01
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Pic by danfuh on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Blueprint of Refuge: Erlangen's Two Planned Cities

Erlangen is a city that shouldn't exist in its current form. It is a masterpiece of survival, a place that was entirely erased and redrawn—not once, but twice. On this immersive walking tour, you will uncover the hidden parallels between two massive waves of 'outsiders' who shaped the city's destiny. First, the 17th-century French Huguenot refugees who built a perfect, rigid Baroque grid. Then, the 20th-century corporate engineers of Siemens, fleeing a divided Berlin to construct colossal mid-century tech monoliths. Join us as we explore the tension between utopian urban planning and messy human reality, tracing the evolution from a desperate sanctuary to a global powerhouse of medical technology.

7 Stops
183 Min
7.5 km
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Tour poster: The Campus City: Erlangen's Academic Alchemy
Tour 02
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Pic by Igal Marcelo Zimmt on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

The Campus City: Erlangen's Academic Alchemy

Discover how a single margravial gift transformed a city into a living, breathing campus. On this immersive walk, you will explore the profound symbiosis between Friedrich-Alexander-Universität and the city of Erlangen. From a Baroque palace that burned down over a twenty-five gulden budget cut, to a former industrial power plant that now fuels student nightlife, you will see how institutional boundaries have dissolved into a shared civic landscape. Join an urban planner and a local resident as they decode the architecture, history, and daily rhythms of a city where knowledge is the ultimate currency.

6 Stops
116 Min
4.1 km
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Tour poster: The Sterile Dynamism: Erlangen's Medical Valley
Tour 03
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Image by Masteraah on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Sterile Dynamism: Erlangen's Medical Valley

Discover how a historic Franconian baroque town transformed into a hyper-specialized, globalized open-air laboratory. On this journey, you will explore the architectural and social paradoxes of Erlangen—where 17th-century gardens meet 21st-century precision engineering, and where monolithic red-brick corporate palaces are giving way to transparent, glass-clad innovation hubs. Uncover the invisible forces of high-end health engineering that dictate the city's skyline, its demographics, and its very pulse.

6 Stops
109 Min
3.7 km
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Tour poster: The 8-Degree Secret: Erlangen's Underground Labyrinth & Keller-Culture
Tour 04
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Image by Janericloebe on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

The 8-Degree Secret: Erlangen's Underground Labyrinth & Keller-Culture

Descend into a 21-kilometer subterranean labyrinth where thermodynamics, history, and sociology collide. Discover how 17th-century sandstone cellars, winter ice harvests, and a constant 8-degree microclimate birthed the Bergkirchweih—a festival older than Munich's Oktoberfest. Join culinary expert Marco and local friend Emma as they unravel the egalitarian traditions, the sensory magic of damp earth and fresh beer, and the fascinating evolution of Franconian Keller-culture.

7 Stops
90 Min
1.8 km
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Your in-app experience

This is how the Red Thread app brings your tour to life.

Red Thread guides you through the city's stories that you won't find in any guidebook. Authentically and compellingly told by our experts and locals.

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Discover Erlangen – Stories Worth Hearing

Red Thread is an iOS and Android app with over 1,500 guided audio tours through cities worldwide - including in Erlangen.

Erlangen feels like a meticulously crafted jewel box, where the broad avenues of the Hugenottenstadt invite leisurely strolls. It's a city of contrasts, where the historic Markgrafentheater stands proudly amidst the modern pulse of research, embodying its unique history as a refuge for French Huguenots, which shaped its precise Baroque blueprint.

From the grandeur of the Schlossgarten to the quiet courtyards of the FAU, Erlangen’s narrative unfolds through its architecture and academic life. Our audio tours, like 'Der Bauplan der Zuflucht' or 'Die Campus-Stadt', guide you through these layers, revealing how every street and building whispers tales of ingenuity and resilience, including the hidden wonders of its subterranean beer cellars.

Erlangen Highlights
  • Explore the elegant Baroque architecture of the Huguenot city.
  • Discover groundbreaking medical technology in Medical Valley.
  • Experience the vibrant intellectual spirit of the FAU campus.
  • Unearth Erlangen's legendary beer cellars – a local secret for all.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Erlangen

General questions about the app, pricing and features are answered in our full FAQ on the main page.

What's special about Erlangen's architecture?
Erlangen is a prime example of a planned Baroque city, heavily influenced by its Huguenot settlers. You can explore this on 'Der Bauplan der Zuflucht' tour, which covers 7 stops over 183 minutes, showcasing the elegant grid and buildings like the Schlossgarten.
Can I experience the famous cellar culture?
Absolutely! The 'Das 8-Grad-Geheimnis' tour takes you into Erlangen's unique underground labyrinth of beer cellars, such as those at the Berg, revealing their history and cultural significance in just 90 minutes.
Is Erlangen only for history buffs?
Far from it! As a vibrant university town and heart of the Medical Valley, Erlangen also offers cutting-edge insights. Our tours 'Die Campus-Stadt' and 'Die sterile Dynamik' highlight its academic and medical innovations, each around two hours long.
Can I create my own tours in Erlangen?
Yes, with the XL or Unlimited subscription you can use our AI-powered tour creator to build your own personalized tour in Erlangen on a topic of your choice. All Infos here
Can I use the Erlangen tours offline?
Yes, with an XL or Unlimited subscription you can download tours for offline use.
Can I do Erlangen tours together with friends?
Yes – with Together Mode (from XL plan) the whole group listens in sync on their own devices. Up to 4 people on XL, up to 10 on Unlimited.
In which other cities does Red Thread offer tours?
Further tours are available in nearby cities like Fürth, Nuremberg, Würzburg, or international destinations like Oxford, Dublin, Bruges and many more. All cities can be found here.
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