About
Magdeburg sits on the Elbe River in eastern Germany, a city where a long past and a modern present share the same streets. It is a place for visitors who enjoy walking through layers of history and then turning to something unexpected.
Cathedral and old town
The city's Gothic cathedral is the centre of many visits. Its tall, austere lines rise above the old town, and it is a natural starting point for exploring the surrounding streets. Magdeburg's history stretches back more than 1,200 years, and that depth shows in the way medieval stone sits beside newer buildings.
Modern architecture
- Hundertwasser house: a colourful, irregular residential building with an organic design that stands in deliberate contrast to the city's older architecture.
- Riverside views: the Elbe gives the city its setting, and walks along the water offer a calm counterpoint to the sightseeing in town.
The contrast between the cathedral's medieval craft and the Hundertwasser house's playful, unconventional forms is a large part of what makes Magdeburg interesting. A visitor can spend an afternoon moving between the two and noticing how the city has kept both.
Planning a visit
Magdeburg suits a day or two of unhurried sightseeing. Plan to see the cathedral and the old town on foot, then set aside time for the Hundertwasser house and the river. Because the city is compact, it is easy to combine these in a single outing, and the varied pace of the visit leaves room for both quiet looking and close inspection of the buildings.
