Halberstadt: Cathedral, Cathedral Treasury and Jewish History

Halberstadt combines Gothic architecture with medieval collections, Jewish urban history and literature. The cathedral and its treasury offer two different perspectives on sacred art; the permanent exhibition at the Berend Lehmann Museum and a guided tour of Jewish history add distinct points of interest. The Gleimhaus adds an 18th-century portrait gallery. If you are looking for accommodation, you can start by deciding which of these cultural themes will be at the heart of your trip.

The Cathedral and Its Treasury

St. Stephen and St. Sixtus Cathedral in Halberstadt was built between 1236 and 1486, inspired by French cathedrals, and is one of Germany’s most significant Gothic cathedrals. Its construction period and French influences provide a specific art-historical context for the building. This places the history of its architecture alongside the question of what distinguishes a Gothic cathedral.

The cathedral treasury contains more than 300 valuable exhibits, including goldsmiths’ work, liturgical vestments, sculptures and textiles such as the Abraham Angel tapestry. It is one of the most significant medieval church treasuries in the world. Two distinct cultural themes therefore stand side by side: the cathedral as a building and the treasury as a diverse collection of individual works and materials.

Jewish History as a Distinct Perspective

The Berend Lehmann Museum’s permanent exhibition, “Koscher, Klaus & Kupfer” (“Kosher, Klaus & Copper”), presents the history of Jews in Halberstadt. A guided tour of the city’s Jewish history complements this focus with a series of named places and stops.

The tour begins at the Klaussynagogue in the former Jewish quarter and continues via Peterstreppe, Domplatz and the Hascharat Zwi Jewish school. It concludes with a visit to the art project “Und der Lebende nehme sich das zu Herzen…” (“And let the living take this to heart…”) at the site of the destroyed Baroque synagogue, followed by the Berend Lehmann Museum in the Mikwenhaus. Check the tour’s booking requirements and dates before your trip.

Gleimhaus: Literary History Through Portraits

Gleimhaus in Halberstadt is one of Germany’s oldest poets’ museums. It was established in 1862 in Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim’s former home near Halberstadt Cathedral. The house is home to Gleim’s so-called “Temple of Friendship” portrait gallery, featuring numerous writers and other notable figures of the 18th century. In contrast to the cathedral and its treasury, the focus here is on portraits and figures from literary and cultural history. Halberstadt’s cultural profile thus encompasses both medieval architecture and art history and the intellectual life of the 18th century.

The Harz as a Wider Travel Destination

The Harz offers a distinct nature and hiking focus alongside Halberstadt’s cultural attractions. Harz National Park covers 24,732 hectares, around ten percent of the entire Harz region. At 1,141 metres, the Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz and lies within the national park’s core zone. Eight visitor centres and national park houses provide information about the park, hiking tips, exhibitions and film screenings.

Another hiking activity in the Harz is the Harzer Wandernadel, with 222 stamping stations throughout the region. Anyone who collects all 222 stamps earns the title “Harzer Wanderkaiser” (“Harz Hiking Emperor”). This makes it possible to weigh a cultural itinerary in Halberstadt against an interest in the region’s nature and hiking without confusing the two.

Set Your Priorities When Looking for Accommodation

If the cathedral, its treasury, Jewish history and the Gleimhaus are your main interests, focus your search on accommodation in Halberstadt. If you would also like to plan hikes or activities at the national park, include the Harz as a separate area in your plans. This lets you consciously balance cultural visits with nature-focused activities. It can also help when travelling companions have different interests: architecture and collections on one hand, hiking destinations and park information on the other.

Discover more destinations: Langenstein, Chess Village of Ströbeck, Groß Quenstedt, Schwanebeck, Quedlinburg, Wegeleben, Ditfurt, Selke-Aue.

See the main travel overview: Harz.