Discover Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg is an exceptional example of a medieval European city because of the number and high quality of its half-timbered houses. Around 2,100 houses spanning eight centuries continue to shape the townscape in the World Heritage area. The long history of construction can be read here not only in individual buildings: it gives a city walk a theme that can be explored further through churches, museums and historic sites.

Half-timbered houses and Romanesque architecture

At St. Servatius Collegiate Church, architecture and traditional art treasures come together. The church is one of the masterpieces of Romanesque architecture; its treasury is an exceptionally well-preserved collection of medieval treasures. It includes a knotted carpet from around 1200, considered the oldest surviving knotted carpet in Europe. Thus, on the same visit, the impact of the church building and a particularly early-dated part of the treasury sit side by side.

The history of construction can also be explored at a specific site on the Münzenberg: the remains of St. Mary’s Church still show elements of an Ottonian basilica. These include the apse, transept, three-aisled nave and westwork. The individual components show how the floor plan of the former church was arranged.

Museums with different areas of focus

The rooms of the former collegiate foundation now house the Castle Museum, with exhibitions on the history of the town and collegiate foundation. The former collegiate buildings include reception and audience rooms designed with style. At the Castle Museum, the history of the town, the collegiate foundation and the historic rooms offer different ways to explore Quedlinburg’s past. Before planning a specific visit, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information.

The Lyonel Feininger Museum is dedicated to the artist’s work and also serves as an exhibition venue for 20th-century and contemporary art. The museum houses, on permanent loan, the collection of Bauhaus member and Quedlinburg native Dr. Hermann Klumpp. It is one of the world’s most important collections of Feininger prints. Art lovers will therefore find a different focus here than in the museums devoted to the town’s history and architecture.

The Half-Timbered Museum in the Ständerbau focuses on Quedlinburg’s half-timbered architecture from the 14th to the 19th century. It also provides information about restoration and reconstruction work in the World Heritage city. Models illustrate the development of half-timbered building styles and complement the historical context with a look at different forms of construction.

City walk, tour or rally

A city walk through the historic old town and up to the castle hill takes around 120 minutes and introduces the town’s history of more than 1,100 years. As a shorter tour, the 45-minute Quedlinburg Bimmelbahn (tourist train) runs from Marktstraße via the lower castle hill through the historic New Town and back to its starting point. The two time estimates help with planning your day: the walk allows more time in the old town, while the Bimmelbahn follows its own route through the New Town and castle hill. Check the latest tour information if you are planning to book a guided tour or ride.

Another way to connect historic sites with contemporary town life is the city rally. With puzzles and creative tasks, it follows a set route past historic sites and through present-day Quedlinburg. This format offers a different focus from the walk, which explicitly explores the town’s history.

Town history and trips into the surrounding area

Quedlinburg lies directly on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains and is considered a starting point for short outings, longer hikes and varied cycling tours in the surrounding area. Two named hiking trails are also connected to the town: the Selke Valley Trail and the Harz Monastery Hiking Trail each begin or end in Quedlinburg.

The Romanesque Route offers another way to explore Romanesque architecture. Quedlinburg features four key buildings along this tourist route, which is more than 1,000 kilometres long. It links 88 Romanesque buildings in 73 towns in Saxony-Anhalt. This means a stay in Quedlinburg can also be part of a broader interest in Romanesque architecture beyond the town itself.

Discover more destinations: Gernrode, Bad Suderode, Rieder, Harsleben, Tanne, Oberharz Am Brocken, Ballenstedt.

Back to the main travel overview: Harz.