Magdebourg, 2 hôtels

The historic old town is the jewel in Magdeburg’s crown and, amongst its historic walls dating from the last 1000 years, there are numerous remarkable buildings from the Middle Ages, the Baroque and the Wilhelminian period, which were lovingly restored after the destruction of the Second World War. A highlight of a leisurely city tour is a visit to Magdeburg's landmark, its cathedral. The sacred building, built in the late Romanesque-Gothic style, captivates with its Renaissance sculptures and carvings. A brush with history is felt as visitors walk past the ornate burial site of Emperor Otto I and his wife.

If you want to walk in the footsteps of the great master, Friedensreich Hunterwasser, pay a visit to the Green Citadel, which he personally designed. Just a stone’s throw from the state parliament and Cathedral Square sits the unique building, which reflects the unmistakable style of the artist in its interior and exterior spaces. Today, in addition to a restaurant, a café and several shops, the Green Citadel, which features two picturesque courtyards, also houses the original architectural model of the Green Citadel, as well as a theatre.

The Magdeburg Rider is the best-known landmark in the city. Dating from the year 1240 and built as an equestrian statue of Emperor Otto I, it represented the privileges of the city for centuries. Today, the bronze reconstruction of the Magdeburg Rider is in front of the Baroque town hall and acts as a popular photo background, while the sandstone original from the Middle Ages is now in the city's cultural history museum. You can marvel at it and other exhibits from the city's history.

If you want to know where the heart of cultural life in Magdeburg lies, a visit to Hasselbachplatz in the centre is a must. Around the star-shaped square, which owes its name to the former mayor, Carl Gustav Friedrich Hasselbach, there are cozy alleyways and grand streets with remarkable Wilhelminian buildings. In this historic corner, you’ll find numerous bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs, which is why Hasselbachplatz Square has earned the nickname “Magdeburg’s Pub Mile” (“Kneipenmeile”). So it’s worth visiting during the day, or at night.

Elbauen Park is one of the hot spots of Magdeburg and was voted the second-most beautiful park in Germany in 2005. The 90-hectare site offers something for culture-seekers, as well as sport and nature lovers. The highlight of the green oasis, along with the floating platform on which concerts are regularly held, is the famous millennium tower, which is the world's largest wooden structure of its kind. A visit to the tower and the park as part of a guided tour is particularly recommended, especially since you won’t just be able to walk through the themed gardens and art pavilions, but you’ll also learn all sorts of interesting things about the park and the labyrinth.

Since 1176, when Archbishop Wichmann von Seefurt-Querfurt gave the square its set-up and purpose, the Old Market has been at the heart of Magdeburg’s old town. Before this special, lively place with its colourful facades was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War, a three-part monument was built here. This consisted of a deer figure, symbolising the promise of paradise, Roland as a symbol of urban freedom and the Madgeburg Horseman as a symbol of Madgeburg's duty to pay tribute to the emperor. Today, only the Magdeburg Horseman is left to see. Take a visit to the »Halle in Buttergasse«, the largest preserved secular-Romanesque vault in Germany.

Magdeburg doesn’t just have history to offer, but its canal bridge over the Elbe makes for an impressive sight and piece of engineering. Spanning 908 metres, the canal bridge is the longest of its type in Europe. However, the bridge is also unique due to its ice-free system, which is supposed to prevent ice formation between the trough wall and the water’s surface. To ensure this, ventilation systems were integrated on the canal’s edges during construction, to prevent the formation of ice by the rising air flow and costing more than €500 million.

Rotehorn City Park has been a popular destination since the early 19th century for Magdeburg residents. Not much has changed to this day, because the 25-hectare site has a lot to offer with its beer garden, swimming lake, the temple on Marieninsel Island and the remains of Fort XII. However, if you want to experience the breathtaking beauty of the park in all its glory, then climb the 252 steps up to the Albin-Müller Tower and enjoy the magnificent view from a height of 61 metres. On a clear day, you can even see Brocken in the distance.

The monastery complex, whose origins date back to 1015, is located in the middle of Magdeburg's old town and is one of the most significant Romanesque buildings in Germany. Alongside architectural highlights such as the cloisters and the monastery garden, the complex also features an art museum, set across five floors and showcasing the art history of antiquity, the Middle Ages and modern art.