33rd Erfurt Pottery Market

A Market for Ceramic Lovers — Since 1992

The Erfurt Pottery Market looks back on over 30 years of tradition. What began in 1992 as a smaller event in the Old Town, which was newly flourishing after reunification, has developed into one of the most important pottery markets in Germany. Every year, tens of thousands of visitors from all over Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Hesse flock to Erfurt's Old Town to buy ceramics directly from the potters. For the participants, Erfurt is an important market: its central location in Central Germany, the high visitor numbers, and the atmosphere of the medieval Old Town make participating attractive.

Four Squares, 75 Potteries, One Old Town

The market is spread across four central squares in Erfurt's Old Town: Fischmarkt (with the historic Roland statue), Benediktsplatz, Rathausarkaden, and Wenigemarkt. The spatial distribution is part of the concept — it turns strolling from stall to stall into a walk through Erfurt's UNESCO-worthy Old Town. Around 75 potteries exhibit, selected for quality and variety: functional ceramics, tableware, vases, sculptures, artistic ceramics. Traditional forms and patterns meet modern design.

Live Demonstrations — Pottery You Can Touch

The market's recipe for success is not just sales, but the live experience: potters paint vessels in front of the audience, model sculptures, and throw on the potter's wheel. For children and adults, it offers a direct insight into an old craft — and some potteries invite visitors to try it themselves.

Erfurt in Spring — Free Admission

The pottery market traditionally falls on the third weekend in April. The spring sun of Erfurt's Old Town, the first leaves on the trees, the hustle and bustle of the cafés and restaurants — the atmosphere is part of the experience. Admission is free. Erfurt is the state capital of Thuringia (a district-free city) and offers a dense range of gastronomy and cultural activities around the market. Those visiting Erfurt for the first time often combine the market with a visit to the Domplatz, Krämerbrücke, Augustinerkloster, and Petersberg.