There is plenty to discover around Berlin : Brandenburg is rich in beautiful lakes and mysterious castles and palaces. But why not combine a city trip with a short escape from Berlin? Magdeburg, the “Ottostadt,” is one of the most underrated destinations for a day trip from Berlin. It is not only the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, but also looks back on over 1200 years of history as an imperial residence and Hanseatic city. There is much more to experience there than meets the eye.
And it’s not as far from Berlin as you might think. The regional express train will take you there in less than two hours. The FlixBus also departs from Berlin Central Station and takes you to the state capital – often at a slightly lower price.
A thousand years of history
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In the 10th century, Emperor Otto the Great expanded Magdeburg into an imperial residence and an important religious center. In the Middle Ages, the city developed into a prosperous Hanseatic city, which gained Europe-wide significance through the influential “Magdeburg Law.”
But Magdeburg also looks back on dark chapters in its history. During the Thirty Years’ War in 1631, the city was almost completely destroyed. The year is cynically described as the “Magdeburg Wedding.” This is because the emperor refused to voluntarily surrender the city—as if it were his bride. However, this proved to be his undoing: the city burned down almost completely, and around 20,000 people died.
The Second World War also had a lasting impact on the cityscape. At the end of the war , Magdeburg was almost completely destroyed. Around 60 percent of the buildings were reduced to rubble and ashes . Today, due to this history, the city is a mix of a few old monuments and a lot of socialist architecture.
What you shouldn’t miss in Magdeburg
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Magdeburg Cathedral is the city’s landmark and the first Gothic cathedral on German soil. It has stood in the city since 1209. Emperor Otto the Great is buried here. And the climb up the north tower offers a sweeping view all the way to the Harz Mountains. The Old Market Square is home to the town hall and the gilded copy of the first free-standing equestrian statue north of the Alps.
The Green Citadel is also worth seeing : it is one of Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s last architectural projects. Today, the pink building with golden spheres and dancing windows houses cafés, shops, and a hotel. Don’t miss the Elbauenpark: Magdeburg’s “green lung” is one of the most popular destinations in Saxony-Anhalt. There you will find the 60-meter-high wooden Millennium Tower, which houses an interactive exhibition on the history of technology and humanity.
Incidentally, the city markets itself as “Ottostadt” (Otto City) for a specific reason: it honors Emperor Otto the Great and physicist Otto von Guericke, who was also mayor of Magdeburg for 30 years. You can’t avoid these two “Ottos” in Magdeburg.