Magdeburg, the 1,200-year-old city of surprises

Magdeburg (‘Magdeburg überascht') is situated on the banks of the River Elbe in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. First mentioned by Charlemagne in 805, Magdeburgtoday attracts much attention by being a major historic venue on the Straße der Romanik or Romanesque Route that has opened up a large number of medieval monasteries, cathedrals, churches and castles to thousands of inquisitive visitors. It was through my research on Ædgyth, the granddaughter of England's King Alfred the Great, that I travelled this fascinating route to Magdeburg.

My first impression on approaching Magdeburg was the silhouette of the magnificent Gothic cathedral, the ‘Symbol of Magdeburg' that dominates the skyline of the old centre or Altstadt. Located in the centre of Magdeburg the once heavilyfortified Altstadt nestles between the lovely River Elbe on the...