Magdeburg Overview

Overview

Magdeburg, located at the banks of the river Elbe, is one of the most famous eastern German cities - mainly because of its cathedral and the "Magdeburg Rider". The city of Magdeburg possesses a long history as a center of trade and culture. This, along with the city's extremely favorable location from a military strategic point of view, allowed "Magadaburg" on the cathedral hill to quickly develop into a booming, pulsating merchant haven. It was Otto I, who brought Magdeburg to the level of archbishopric.

Impressive architectural structures attest to the power, influence, and ability of the men who decreed their construction. Among them is the Gothic cathedral, the Romanesque cloister of "Our Beloved Lady", and the city hall with the "Magdeburg Rider", the first free-standing equestrian monument, dating back approximately 750 years.

Many well-known and other lesser known personalities left their mark on Magdeburg. Telemann and Wagner represent the music tradition of the city, while entrepreneurs and engineers like Wolf and Gruson built up Magdeburg's reputation around the turn of the century as a center of industry and a model for city planning and construction. The names of Bruno Taut and Johannes Goederitz are called as deputy here.

Unfortunately, though, the evolution of this city on the Elbe did not always continue along the same path. Phases of economic growth and cultural advancement were suddenly interrupted by moments of destruction, death, and resignation. Tilly's troops brought incredible destruction to Magdeburg during the Thirty Years War. On May 10, 1631, the city was razed to the ground. No one could ever imagine that such a terrible tragedy would befall the citizens of Magdeburg a second time, but several centuries later, on January 16, 1945, the city was once again reduced to rubble -this time, by British-American air attacks toward the end of World War II.

Today, Magdeburg is a city with 235.000 inhabitants and a remarkably well rebuilt heart of the city, that boasts splendid facades and many charming, quaint corners.