Magdeburg can be planned around different interests: Gothic architecture, contemporary art and cycling along the Elbe Cycle Route. The cathedral, the Green Citadel and the Monastery of Our Lady offer different cultural highlights; the cycle route adds a route through the city to this selection. When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide whether buildings, changing exhibitions or an outdoor route should shape your stay. This puts the choice of travel style ahead of a fixed itinerary of sights. Magdeburg is also the center and the starting and ending point of the northern and southern routes of the Romanesque Road.

The cathedral and Hundertwasser architecture

Magdeburg Cathedral is Germany’s oldest Gothic cathedral. The climb to the north tower involves 433 steps; from the top, the view extends across the city and the river. The cathedral thus offers two perspectives side by side: the Gothic building and the viewing point. The number of steps is also a practical planning consideration if you want to include the tower in your visit.

The Green Citadel was Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s last project and was completed in 2005. The complex includes courtyards, shops, restaurants, a café and a theater. While the Gothic cathedral and its north tower are the main focus at the cathedral, the citadel comprises a range of different elements and uses. This offers a different perspective on architecture: alongside the building’s form, the complex’s various parts are also defining features.

Art at the Monastery of Our Lady

The Monastery of Our Lady serves as an art museum and concert venue. Changing exhibitions of contemporary art are presented in one of the oldest surviving buildings in Magdeburg. Two different periods come together here: the building is among the city’s oldest surviving structures, while the contemporary art on display changes. For planning purposes, this offers a cultural focus different from the architecture of the cathedral or the Green Citadel.

The Elbe Cycle Route: a different perspective

The Elbe Cycle Route runs through Magdeburg, passing parks, bridges and the cathedral. The routes are mostly flat and family-friendly; cafés, viewpoints and picnic areas are located along the way. This makes the cycle route different from a visit focused on a building or an exhibition: here, the route and the points mentioned provide orientation. If you are planning a ride, check local construction and access conditions in advance, as these may change.

This gives you a concrete choice when planning your trip: should the day be shaped by a building and a climb of 433 steps, by changing art exhibitions, or by a route with several named stops?

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