Magdeburg - The City of Contrasts and Harmony

Hello friends. My love for Fachwerk towns this time led me to the Harz region, which spans three German states: Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony and Thuringia. I decided to choose Magdeburg as my base. Magdeburg is located right in the middle between Berlin and the towns I picked, Goslar, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg. This city is the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. As I walked along the old city boundaries, I was amazed by a stark contrast. In one direction, you find yourself surrounded by Eastern Bloc architecture. But when you turn your head another way, you're suddenly in 18th–19th century Europe.

At the city center stands Magdeburg’s main cathedral, called Dom zu Magdeburg in German. The cathedral is dazzling, a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles and like many other cathedrals, it has faced many challenges over the centuries. It houses the tomb of Otto I, the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and is considered one of the oldest Gothic churches located on modern German territory. It’s not just a museum. It's still an active place of worship. When I visited, it was open and accessible. However, photography inside wasn’t free. It cost two euros. At the entrance there's a kind of ticket booth where you pay for photography. The staff said the fee was considered a donation to the church.

Right across from Magdeburg Cathedral is the Green Citadel, a building designed by the famous Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. It's a unique example of his distinct and colorful architectural style. In his designs you’ll hardly ever see straight lines. Everything is curved, wavy and organic in form.

Inside there are small courtyards, people walking around, cafés, souvenir shops and guided tours are available. Unfortunately, the top of the building can only be accessed with a guided tour and these tours take place once an hour. The group before me had gone up at 4:00 pm and when I arrived it was 4:12 pm. The next tour was scheduled for 5:00 pm, so I would have had to wait almost an hour and unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to wait.

The souvenir shop sells items designed in the Citadel style. For example, there were various animal-shaped magnets. I bought one shaped like an elephant. However, the magnets were a bit expensive, around 13 euros.

Here’s the layout of the Citadel. It shows two courtyards and several entrance paths.

Right next to the Citadel is a tram stop. Like bus stops, this one has glass panels too. Special symbols have been placed on the glass to prevent birds from flying into them. This way the birds notice the glass and avoid collisions.

Opposite the Citadel is a massive and impressive building: the post office. It is an imposing structure. This building once served as the main post office of Magdeburg. It is influenced by historical architectural styles and has a majestic appearance. I find it quite striking and remarkable.

Right next to the Citadel is the Museum of Art History. This museum is quite similar to the churches in Braunschweig and Goslar. Like many important churches in these towns, this museum also reflects key elements of Romanesque architecture.

Just below Magdeburg Cathedral, near the Museum of Art History, lies the riverfront area where the Elbe River flows. The Elbe is a beautiful river and not particularly wide. It plays an important role in Magdeburg and there are boats offering river tours for tourists.

Signs like these, banning firearms, knives and pepper spray aren’t seen everywhere. I’ve particularly noticed them in Frankfurt and here in Magdeburg. In both cities these signs are located right next to the train stations where the police stations are also situated.

The pedestrian traffic lights here are the same as those in Berlin: featuring the walking man figure. These charming figures, walking on green and standing on red are loved by both locals and tourists.

To the side there’s an old administrative court building, very close to Magdeburg Cathedral.

On the other side stands another cathedral called St. Sebastian's Cathedral. This Gothic-style church is particularly striking with its tall, elegant towers. The door handle at the entrance is also quite interesting, shaped like a fish and various small sculptures.

I explored the interior of the cathedral. It’s small but had unique figures I hadn’t seen in other cathedrals. The foundation of this cathedral was laid around 1016 as a canonical structure. Over its history it suffered major destruction due to events like fires and the Thirty Years War but continued to serve as a cathedral after restoration.

All the tourist spots in Magdeburg are very close to each other: St. Sebastian’s Cathedral, Magdeburg Cathedral right next to it and beside that, the Museum of Art History. This makes things very convenient for tourists visiting Magdeburg.

After visiting the cathedral, I went into a supermarket and found the local Magdeburg beer there. In Germany every city, even every village produces its own local beer.

Across from that is St. John’s Church (St. Johanniskirche). Unfortunately, the church was closed, so it wasn’t possible to go inside. I imagine the atmosphere inside must be quite striking. The exterior is also very impressive. This church is no longer used as an active place of worship but has become an important venue in the city’s cultural life. It often hosts concerts or special events.

Near St. John’s Church is the Old Town Hall. In front of it stands a statue called the Magdeburg Knight. According to the sign next to it, this is the first freestanding equestrian statue in Germany and symbolizes law and sovereignty. It is generally believed to represent Emperor Otto I.

The most interesting "tourist attraction" in Magdeburg for me was actually these apartment blocks. These kinds of buildings,large residential complexes from the East Germany era have their own unique aesthetic and story. Even though they were built in a uniform, functional and often brutalist style, they still shape much of the city’s texture, as in Magdeburg and offer a significant window into everyday life of a past era. While some may see them as monotonous, others find them fascinating and a distinctive architectural experience with historical and social context. That alone can make them a really touristic site.

The people in Magdeburg are very calm, friendly, polite and helpful. They live their lives in a measured and balanced way. If you get lost in the city, they won’t ignore your problem. They’ll gladly help you, explain and guide you. Overall I’d say there’s a friendly attitude toward tourists. Locals are proud that their city attracts attention and are pleased when visitors make an effort to get to know it.

When you visit someone’s home, they will almost always offer tea or coffee along with cookies or small sweets. They also offer alcoholic beverages, but if you decline they don’t take offense. The locals drink a lot of beer, often buying it in crates.

Magdeburg fascinated me with its uniqueness and the harmony of contrasts, a city where old styles and modernity blend into a single whole. Everything here is so harmoniously balanced that you find yourself completely immersed in this orderly and creative atmosphere.

I highly recommend everyone to visit this wonderful city. You won’t be disappointed. You’ll be amazed by its colors and splendor.