Magdeburg Cathedral

Magdeburg Cathedral – sermon church of the regional bishop of the Protestant Church in Central Germany and the town’s landmark. The cathedral is the first gothic cathedral in Germany and the earliest completed gothic cathedral in Germany. It was consecrated in 1363.

Magdeburg Cathedral – Eye-catcher in Magdeburg

The Magdeburg Cathedral is a three-tiered basilica of the cross with a gallery choir. Its special features: buttresses instead of struts, the choir has the cross-section of a gallery basilica, but above the side aisles of the nave there are no galleries, the high choir is higher than originally planned.

Otto the Great founded the St. Mauritius monastery in 937, in the year 946, his first wife Edith was buried there. At that time, Otto probably already determined Magdeburg as his last resting place. Before the battle on the Lechfeld in the year 955, Otto announced, still before his coronation as emperor, to establish a diocese in Merseburg in case of his victory. He pursued the idea of erecting a magnificent new building. Magdeburg became a centre of power and wealth in Europe.

Although the cathedral was plundered and destroyed several times in the course of its history, it still holds many preserved valuable furnishings and art treasures.

Eventful history in Magdeburg

At the time of the Reformation Magdeburg was a stronghold of Protestantism. After the death of Archbishop Albrecht of Brandenburg the cathedral was closed for 20 years. In 1567 the cathedral became Protestant. On the First Advent the first Protestant service was celebrated there.

During the Thirty Years War the troops of Emperor Ferdinand the Second conquered Magdeburg. The Magdeburg Archbishopric came back under the government of a Catholic bishop. After the agreements of the Peace of Westphalia, the Duchy of Magdeburg became part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

Under the Emperor Frederick William the Third of Prussia the cathedral was extensively restored. During the Second World War, Magdeburg Cathedral was severely damaged. Today the building is visited by more than 100,000 people every year. In 2009 the 800th anniversary of the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral was celebrated.

Visit the imposing building from days gone by during your stay and get to know Magdeburg Cathedral as an impressive structure.