Magdeburg Between the Cathedral, the Elbe and New Discoveries

The Cathedral, Sculptures and the Romanesque Route

Magdeburg Cathedral is the first cathedral on German soil to have been conceived in the Gothic style. Emperor Otto is buried in a stone sarcophagus inside the cathedral. The Magdeburg Rider is also part of the city’s cultural character: together with its two accompanying figures, it is one of the most significant sculptures of 13th-century European Gothic art. These historical connections lend a visit to Magdeburg particular depth, while the city is by no means limited to a single era.

Magdeburg is also the centre and the starting and end point of the northern and southern routes of the Romanesque Route. Those interested in historic architecture can therefore explore the city in the context of this route. The Green Citadel adds a more recent chapter to this historical perspective: it was the final project by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and was completed in 2005.

Museums and Discoveries for a Range of Interests

The Otto von Guericke Museum in the Lukasklause is devoted to the life and work of Otto von Guericke. A permanent exhibition illustrates his life with replicas of historical instruments, pictures, documents and experiments. The Kunstmuseum Magdeburg Kloster Unser Lieben Frauen displays significant works by international contemporary artists across five floors. Historical subjects and contemporary art thus stand side by side as distinct cultural highlights.

Those looking to explore nature can visit the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Natural History Magdeburg, which presents the ecological habitats of Saxony-Anhalt, from the Magdeburg Börde and the Elbe with its floodplains to the Harz Mountains. The museum preserves more than 350,000 objects in total, covering geology, mineralogy, palaeontology, botany and zoology. The Gruson Greenhouses offer another way to experience nature in a special setting. At this tropical botanical garden, visitors have been able to explore the tropics under glass since 1896.

The Elbe, Parks and Active Excursions

The Elbe Cycle Route runs through the heart of Magdeburg, past parks, bridges and the cathedral. It connects several of the city’s most distinctive sights along one cycling route; its mostly flat, well-maintained paths are also suitable for families. Those who would rather focus on a park landscape can explore Rotehorn City Park. Located on an island in the Elbe, it offers tree-lined avenues, expansive meadows and views of the cathedral.

The White Fleet offers a different perspective on the river, with sightseeing cruises from the banks of the Elbe in Magdeburg to the waterway crossing and into the idyllic surrounding area. At Magdeburg Zoo, the AFRICAMBO savanna landscapes offer various views of the elephant enclosure, from inside and out. Visitors can observe elephants, vervet monkeys and aardwolves there. The cycle route, park, boat trips and zoo each bring their own character to a visit.

Hands-On Activities and Unusual Architecture

Randau Stone Age Village is an open-air museum featuring reconstructed houses from three different periods. At the shooting range, visitors can practise using a spear, bow and arrows. They can also buy bread baked in a clay oven. The visit combines a look at reconstructed homes with hands-on activities and a taste of local fare.

Another unusual kind of museum is the Millennium Tower: this walk-through, spiral-shaped museum presents 6,000 years of the history of knowledge. Together with the museums, cathedral and Green Citadel, it illustrates the many different ways to enjoy a cultural stay in Magdeburg.

The attractions described here offer a reason to consider Magdeburg as a destination for culture and active discovery.

See the local pages: Magdeburg, Beyendorf.

See the main travel overview: Saxony-Anhalt.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, Wittenberg, Jerichower Land, Harz, Burgenlandkreis, Anhalt-Bitterfeld.