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Magdeburg

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2013-07-14, 2017-09-17

http://www.magdeburg.de

Everybody heard about Magdeburg, even those who don't know in which country it is. First of all, because of the Magdeburg Law, autonomy that was obtained by individual cities and that was named in honor of the laws formed in Magdeburg in the 13th century.

Magdeburg is also known as the birthplace of Otto von Guericke, German physicist, engineer and philosopher. In 1650, he invented the vacuum vents, which are now used everywhere. And in 1654, he conducted a well-known experiment with the Magdeburg hemispheres, of which many have read in physics books in the school. Two copper hemispheres were connected and air was removed from them. Eight horses from each side couldn't break the hemisphere and thus proved the existence of atmospheric pressure. There is a monument to the scientist in the city. The hemispheres can be found everywhere as well. The original ones are kept in the Deutsches Museum in Munich.

Monument to Otto von Guericke ©Yuriy Buriak

Monument to famous experiment ©Yuriy Buriak

The sculpture is empty from behind ©Yuriy Buriak

Magdeburg hemispheres ©Yuriy Buriak

Another famous citizen is Emperor Otto I the Great, who chose Magdeburg as his residence and founded the Benedictine monastery in 937.

Magdeburg Horseman that represents the Emperor Otton I. ©Yuriy Buriak

The city was completely destroyed in 1945. Most of the buildings in the downtown were built at the times of GDR, and they clearly represent the "Soviet" style.

Market Square in 1945 ©wikimedia.org / BArchBot

City Hall of Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Market Square in Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

From this point began the reconstruction of the destroyed city. ©Yuriy Buriak

Buildings on the Ernst-Reuter-Allee ©Yuriy Buriak

Building in Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Funny building ©Yuriy Buriak

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Such houses can be found 200 meters from the Market Square ©Yuriy Buriak

Some major historical buildings survived, though they were badly damaged. Cathedrals and churches are the only islands of history in the old city.

Nevertheless, many buildings of the Soviet era are undergoing reconstruction. The updated facades look much better.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

The task to build a majestic cathedral (Cathedral of St. Maurice and St. Catherine) was given by Otto I the Great in 955. There he married his wife and died shortly afterwards. There is his tomb in the cathedral. In 1207, the original building was destroyed by fire and in 1209 construction of a new Gothic cathedral began. There is an observation deck on the top, but you can visit it only with an organized tour, which takes place two times a day.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Door handle in the Magdeburg Cathedral ©Yuriy Buriak

St. John's Church (941) is the oldest church in the city. Martin Luther used to preach here. There is also an observation deck upstairs.

St. John's Church (941) ©Yuriy Buriak

Portal of the St. John's Church. The bronze composition reminds of the destruction and reconstruction of Magdeburg during and after the World War II. ©Yuriy Buriak

Monastery of Our Lady, now National Gallery ©Yuriy Buriak

A suspiciously immoral sculpture stands next to the female monastery. ©Yuriy Buriak

Walloon Church of St. Augustine (1285) ©Yuriy Buriak

Parish Church of St. Peter (1150), restored in 1970 ©Yuriy Buriak

Magdalene Chapel (1315) ©Yuriy Buriak

On the way to the train station you will see a monument to Igor Belikov. At that time he was a Soviet soldier and served in a nearby town. In the morning of March 13, 1969 Belikov arrived at Magdeburg and was walking along the empty streets. He saw a little girl who almost fell out of the window of the 6th floor and he was able to catch her in his coat! Igor Belikov now lives in Lugansk (Ukraine) and is an honorary citizen of Magdeburg.

Monument to Igor Belikov ©Yuriy Buriak

If you go to another side of the Elbe river, you can see the old city from a new angle.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Aerial photo

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

The Hubbrücke bridge was abandoned a few years ago, but now it's pedestrian.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

In recent years, a new modern district appeared near the bridge. Magdeburg is very actively developing.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Here you can find a huge graffiti with the Elbe River and all the cities through which it flows.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

An interesting monument with the clock that show the time in different cities of the world.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

The city has a new attraction, built in 2005 by architect Hundertwasser: the Green Citadel. We have a separate article about it.

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

More photos of Magdeburg

Sculptures without heads in the Moellenvogteigarten ©Yuriy Buriak

The heads are in another place. ©Yuriy Buriak

Post office building ©Yuriy Buriak

Sculpture in Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Fountain in the Market Square of Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

New City Hall in Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

House with eyes :) ©Yuriy Buriak

I wonder what penguins and Magdeburg have in common? :) ©Yuriy Buriak

Magdeburg ©Yuriy Buriak

Probably the only half-timbered house in the old city

Cultural attractions are drawn on many ordinary things.

Old city walls and the center of Otto von Guericke

Little men take over the house on Leiterstrasse.

Monument to those who donated money for the construction of the Sternbruecke bridge.

Brochure in English with a map and description of the attractions can be downloaded here.

Getting there: Magdeburg is a large railway junction, use bahn.de.

Tags, Germany: cathedral, city
Tags, all countries: cathedral, city

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