Clustered with half-timbered houses, Quedlinburg is a medieval town that lies along the Bode River in the Harz district of Saxony-Anhalt. Its clifftop castle, magnificent church and atmospheric old town have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and several attractions in the town are designated stops along the Romanesque Road.
Things to do in Quedlinburg
Spend an afternoon exploring Quedlinburg’s old town, which is home to more than 1,300 half-timbered houses. Take note of the carved panels on the facade of the Gildehaus zur Rose and photograph the Baroque architecture of the Börse, which was designed by one of Quedlinburg’s most influential carpenters, Andreas Besen. On the adjacent hill is the Münzenberg Museum, which occupies the centuries-old Convent of St. Mary.
Perched atop a sandstone cliff overlooking the town is Quedlinburg Castle Hill, which is dominated by a monumental Romanesque church dating back to the 12th century. Step inside to marvel at the ornately decorated walls and Gothic choir of the Stiftskirche St. Servatius, then climb to the vault rooms where its religious treasures are on display.
Facing the Stiftskirche St. Servatius is the Schlossmuseum, where the ancient history of Quedlinburg is exhibited within a 16th-century palace. Get up close to Bronze Age artefacts discovered in the surrounding region and admire the remnants of stucco work dating from the 10th century. The museum also details how the Nazi party used the site to stage propaganda events.
Getting around Quedlinburg
Leipzig/Halle Airport is just over an hour’s drive from Quedlinburg while Hannover Airport is less than two hours away. Regular trains connect from the Quedlinburg railway station to Magdeburg, Thale and Halberstad while buses travel to the surrounding towns and villages. The centre of Quedlinburg can easily be explored on foot.