Summary of Things to Do in Quedlinburg
A UNESCO World Heritage city, Quedlinburg resides beneath a sandstone cliff, which features an abbey and palace at its summit. Founded in the 10th century by Henry the Fowler, the king of East Francia, Quedlinburg later became a significant court for Holy Roman Emperor Otto I, who contributed to its development.
The city showcases enigmatic Ottonian and Romanesque architecture from the High Middle Ages, a period when a lineage of Abbesses governed from the cliff-top until the abbey’s dissolution in 1803.
Throughout over five centuries, merchants and artisans constructed numerous half-timbered residences descending the slope of the old town and on the Münzenberg hill. Remarkably, there are over 1,300 half-timbered structures, which might evoke an enchanting ambiance.
1. Stiftskirche St. Servatius
This monumental sandstone edifice, located on Schlossberg, embodies a Lombard Romanesque architectural style and serves as a three-aisled basilica consecrated in 1129. It is the final resting place of Henry the Fowler, the founder of the Ottonian dynasty.
Within the crypt beneath the chancel, the preserved remains of Henry and Matilda of Ringelheim lie beneath frescoes.
Look closely in the nave to appreciate the intricately carved capitals and imposts displaying various plant and animal forms, especially eagles.
The frieze under the clerestory is also adorned with various animal motifs.
A staircase in the choir leads to the treasury, which harbors remarkable Early and High Medieval artifacts, including the Quedlinburg knotted carpet from the 12th century and the Servatius Reliquary embellished with delicate gold filigree.
2. Schlossmuseum
The stunning interiors of this 16th-century Renaissance palace on Schlossberg house a museum dedicated to mapping Quedlinburg’s prehistoric, ancient, and Medieval history.
The galleries elucidate the development of Schlossberg during the reign of Henry the Fowler in the 10th century and immerse visitors in the Ottonian era.
You can encounter the oldest remnants of stuccowork in the German-speaking regions, dating back to the 900s.
Additionally, there are Bronze Age hoards discovered in nearby Lehof and Groß Orden.
The opulent interiors of the palace itself offer insight into the noble lifestyle of Quedlinburg during the 17th and 18th centuries.
3. Timber-framed Houses
The old town of Quedlinburg epitomizes quaint charm, boasting a count of 1,327 half-timbered houses.
While all exude historical allure, several should be prioritized during your visit.
Gildehaus zur Rose (1612) at Breite Straße 39 features two tiers of vividly painted, intricately carved panels and has a lineage of affluent merchants.
Located at Steinweg 23, The Börse (Stock Exchange) is a Baroque structure from 1683 and the inaugural building crafted by master carpenter Andreas Besen, who played a significant role in shaping Quedlinburg during this period.
A stop at Weißer Engel (1623), a merchant and guesthouse at Lange Gasse 23, is also recommended, alongside the striking cube-like building at the intersection of Breite Straße and Schulstraße, constructed in 1660.
4. Münzenberg
This hill situated to the west of Schlossberg and the old town emerged from a separate settlement and is home to approximately 65 half-timbered houses.
The establishment of a convent by the widow of Otto II, Empress Theophanu, around the late 10th century initiated this development.
Following the Reformation in the 16th century, the convent was discontinued, prompting artisans such as tinkers and scissor grinders to occupy the area, creating small timber-framed houses surrounding the dilapidated monastic structures.
A museum dedicated to the history of Münzenberg preserves the convent church, a beautiful Ottonian basilica, and visitors can relish delightful views toward Schlossberg.
5. Rathaus
The highlight of the market square is Quedlinburg’s old town hall.
In contrast to most city architecture, this structure from the 13th and 14th centuries is entirely constructed of stone, reflecting a Gothic style and topped with a sharply pitched roof.
Under the lush ivy cover, intricate details emerge: Above the portal is the city’s coat of arms, represented by a mosaic on the adjacent ground.
Behind this, the Roland statue depicts a knight wielding a sword and shield, symbolizing Quedlinburg’s municipal privileges.
6. Marktkirche St. Benedikti
In the old town, the Marktkirche served as a worship site for Quedlinburg’s merchants in the 10th century, preserving much of its original Romanesque stonework.
The western towers display narrow semi-circular windows and blind arches, highlighting the building’s historical significance.
The two towers vary in height due to fire damage to the south one, while the residence of Quedlinburg’s night watchman is accessible to visitors, providing panoramic views of the old town to the east, south, and west.
Examine the Baroque high altar (1700), Renaissance pulpit (1595), and a masterful Late Gothic winged altar from 1480, showcasing an image of Mary with Child on its central panel.
7. St. Blasii
Currently functioning as a concert hall, this former church is believed to be among the city’s oldest structures.
The monolithic square tower, showcasing 10th-century masonry, predates the earliest recorded reference of the building in 1222. In the 1710s, all except the tower underwent a Baroque redesign.
The interior, surprisingly restrained for its time, features wooden pews, stalls, and gallery that exhibit understated elegance, while the 18th-century pulpit is notably theatrical with its gilded columns, statues, and imitation red marble.
8. Sternkiekerturm
A few hundred meters west of the Marktplatz lies the Schlosshotel zum Markgrafen, which oversees the operation of this observation tower located on its premises.
For a nominal fee of €1, visitors can access the tower and begin their ascent of this historical defensive structure.
Notably, the side of the Sternkiekerturm overlooking the city remains entirely open.
Its unique design results from a late 19th-century redesign that aligns with the Eclectic style prevalent at the time.
Standing at 42 meters, this tower offers the highest observation platform in Quedlinburg, providing unobstructed views to the old town in the east and the Schlossberg in the south.
9. Fachwerkmuseum Ständerbau Quedlinburg (Half-timbered Museum)
In a city adorned with over 1,300 half-timbered houses, Quedlinburg is an ideal location for a museum dedicated to this architectural style.
This attraction occupies one of the city’s oldest structures, built in the mid-14th century.
Its significance stems from the “Ständerbau” construction technique, where vertical timber beams, anchored to the sill plate at the ground floor, extend all the way to the roof.
Visitors can observe where wooden pegs have been used to secure these beams against tensile and shearing forces.
The exhibition delves into various timber-framed construction methods and shares insights into the ongoing restoration efforts across Quedlinburg.
10. St. Wiperti
On the grounds of Henry the Fowler’s royal court on the southwest side of Schlossberg lies the Church of St. Wigbert, renowned for its 10th-century crypt.
The royal court convened at St. Wiperti, where Otto I frequented throughout the 10th century to honor his father and observe Easter festivities.
This lower section of the church remains largely unchanged since the basilica above was redesigned in the 12th century, revealing arched niches and Ottonian-style capitals.
The upper portion functioned as a male monastery until the Reformation and was even repurposed as a barn for a period before restoration post-World War II.
Adjacent to the church lies the Wipertifriedhof cemetery, where medieval tombs are elegantly carved into the hillside in terraces.
11. Brühl
This 15-hectare park, bordered by the Bode River, was originally part of the St. Wiperti Monastery during the Middle Ages.
Following the Reformation, it transitioned into a public recreation area for Quedlinburg’s inhabitants. In 1685, Anna Dorothea, the Abbess of Quedlinburg, established the pathways that still traverse the park today.
After the dissolution of monasteries in the early 19th century, Brühl became a royal property and was eventually gifted to the city by the King of Prussia.
Later, an English landscape park featuring exotic trees was cultivated in 1866, alongside monuments dedicated to notable Quedlinburg figures, such as Carl Ritter, a pioneer of modern geography.
12. Lyonel-Feininger-Galerie
In the 20th century, Quedlinburg architect and art collector Hermann Klumpp curated a collection of paintings, lithographs, woodcuts, etchings, watercolors, and drawings by Expressionist and Bauhaus artist Lyonel Feininger.
The gallery, which received a modern extension in the 1990s, showcases works representing each of Feininger’s creative phases from 1906 to 1937. Additionally, pieces by Feininger’s contemporaries, including Lovis Corinth, Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Emil Nolde, are also featured.
13. Stiftskirche St. Cyriakus
For an easy and fulfilling day trip, head south to Gernrode, where another Ottonian monument awaits.
This collegiate church, founded in the 960s by Margrave Gero, contains his sculptured tomb located beneath the staircase to the choir.
The highlight inside is a replica of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
This exquisite Romanesque artwork was sculpted over 50 years, completing around 1130, and is regarded as the closest resemblance to the original in Jerusalem.
In the nave, the capital columns showcase a diverse array of motifs, ranging from human heads to stylized acanthus leaves.
14. Harz Narrow Gauge Railways
Quedlinburg is a terminal for a narrow gauge railway weaving through the expansive landscape of the Harz mountain range.
This railway comprises the longest continuous network in Europe powered by steam, encompassing two 19th-century lines that have been unified and extended to encompass various destinations around the range.
The 8.5-kilometer line from Quedlinburg south to Gernrode opened in 2006, as an extension of the Selketalbahn, which was established in 1887. For a comprehensive experience, consider a round trip to Hasselfelde, approximately 40 kilometers away, while enjoying a ride in a vintage carriage beneath rolling peaks such as the 600-meter Ramberg.
15. Bad Suderode
It was the women of Quedlinburg’s Medieval convent who first embraced the natural beauty of this valley, located a short drive south of Quedlinburg.
The small Romanesque church found in the resort originates from this period, adorned with Late Medieval frescoes and reliefs depicting King David alongside the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
After the discovery of the therapeutic properties of local spring waters in the early 20th century, Suderode received its spa designation (Bad), leading to the establishment of sophisticated Wilhelmine style houses around the valley.
The spring water boasts a notably high calcium concentration, attracting visitors to the spa for warm salt baths.
For nature enthusiasts, Bad Suderode’s charm lies within the northern Harz mountain landscape, accessible via 245 kilometers of marked hiking trails.
