Germany's earliest complete Gothic cathedral, begun in 1209 on the site of Otto I's earlier church foundation, holding the emperor's tomb before the high altar.
Otto I made Magdeburg an archbishopric in 968 as part of his effort to Christianize and administer the Slavic frontier regions to the east, and the cathedral begun in 1209 replaced his original foundation, taking over three centuries to complete in 1520. Otto's tomb, shared with his first wife Edith of Wessex, an English princess whose remains were confirmed through a 2008 exhumation and DNA analysis, makes the site one of the very few verified early medieval English royal burials anywhere. The cathedral survived heavy WWII bomb damage that destroyed most of the surrounding old town, standing today partly as a memorial to that destruction alongside its medieval fabric.
| Admission | €7 (~$8) adult; €5 (~$5) concession |
|---|---|
| Hours | May-Sep: 10:00-18:00; Apr/Oct: 10:00-17:00; Nov-Mar: 10:00-16:00; Sun/holidays from 11:30 |
| Address | Am Dom 1, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany |
Why it matters
Burial site of Emperor Otto I the Great, founder of the Magdeburg archbishopric in 968, and the oldest fully Gothic cathedral in Germany.
Site facts
- Built
- 1209-1520
- Style
- Gothic
- UNESCO listing
- Not separately UNESCO-listed; part of the broader Ottonian heritage of the region
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Am Dom 1, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
52.1264, 11.6367 View on map
Highlights
- Tomb of Otto I the Great and Edith of Wessex
- 104-metre twin Gothic towers
- Survived WWII bombing that destroyed the surrounding old town
Tips for visiting
- Look for the Otto I and Edith of Wessex tomb before the high altar - it is easy to overlook without knowing where to find it
- Note the cathedral's war-damaged sections as a layer of 20th-century history
When to visit
Weekday mornings year-round.
Accessibility
Main nave has a level entrance; tower climb involves a long spiral staircase.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Why is Otto I's tomb historically significant?
It is the burial site of the first Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife Edith of Wessex's confirmed remains make it one of the few verified early medieval English royal burials in existence.