NATURAL AND CULTURAL TREASURES ON THE SAALE AND UNSTRUT RIVERS
Merseburg – formerly a royal seat, today a university centre – lies on the edge of the wonderful Saale-Unstrut wine region, which is characterised by its large number of castles.
The remarkable cultural landscape brings the time of the High Middle Ages to life. The profound developments of the 13th century in art, architecture and landscaping are reflected in important monuments and centuries of cultivation. There is a unique combination of medieval-influenced nature and culture. Amongst vineyards, castles and monasteries, many of our visitors have succumbed to the charm of the Saale-Unstrut region.
The enchanting royal seat of Merseburg
Today’s district capital of Merseburg is considered by many to be the cradle of central German cities: Continuously inhabited for more than 6,000 years, the mighty Stone Age fortress on the mountain spur above the Saale grew from a strategically important border site between Germanic and Slavic tribes into a royal seat. The impressive palace complex with Merseburg Cathedral bears witness to more than 1,200 years of eventful history. Between the Renaissance palace – which today houses a museum – and the Baroque palace garden parlour with its orangery is the palace garden, which is open all year round. In addition to the Museum of Cultural History, the palace is also home to the Saale District Administration and the District Music School.
District Administration Saalekreis
Domplatz 9, 06217 Merseburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 3461 400
Further information: www.saalekreis.de
Church music in Merseburg
The city of Merseburg, with its large cathedral and town church, is a centre for church music with supra-regional appeal and with special tasks and focal points. Important organs, several choirs, the concert series in the cathedral and town church, many special services and events as well as the integration of church music into the city's cultural programme bear witness to the high status of church music in Merseburg and in our parish.
World-renowned masterpieces in UNESCO World Heritage site Naumburg Cathedral
The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Naumburg is one of Europe’s most important cultural monuments from the High Middle Ages and is a major visitor attraction on the “Romanesque Route”. One of the cathedral’s most impressive features are the twin choir screens which separate the choirs from the nave. It is the only church in the world to contain two choir screens from the high medieval period! received The West Choir with its choir screen and 12 statues depicting the church’s donors, which date back to the mid-thirteenth century, forms the cathedral’s biggest attraction. Crafted by the Naumburg Master, the statue known as Uta is particularly special and is said to depict the “most beautiful woman of the middle ages”.
Tip: Use our Naumburg-Merseburg combi ticket!
(incl. audio guide at both sites)
Adults: 15,00 €
Concessions (students, apprentices, recipients of level II unemployment benefit, holders of a severe disability card): 9.50 € 10,00 €
School-aged children: 5,00 €
Land of wine and stone
The countryside surrounding the Saale and Unstrut rivers holds delights for lovers of history, wine connoisseurs and activity-seekers alike. Castles, cities, cathedrals and monasteries provide testimony to the former splendour of the high middle ages and harbour world-renowned works of art. Indulge yourself in the land of wine and stone with a glass of bubbly or the noble drop. Those keen on walking, cycling or watersports will find plenty on offer among the vineyard-clad hills, rivers and the Saale cycle trail.
For information on everything the region has to offer including events and highlights:
Saale-Unstrut-Tourismus
Tel.: +49 (0) 3445 23 37 90
info@saale-unstrut-tourismus.de
www.saale-unstrut-tourismus.de
Along the Romanesque Route
The "Romanesque Route" brought to life in 1993 links individual buildings showcasing medieval architecture. Since 2007, it has been connected to the cultural route known as TRANSROMANICA, recognised by the European Council, which links Romanesque buildings in Saxony-Anhalt, Austria, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Romania and Serbia.
Let yourself be amazed by the beautiful round arches and noble symmetry of the Middle Ages.
Garden Dreams: Historic parks and gardens in Saxony-Anhalt
Whether rambling estates with grand boulevards and baroque floral displays, well-groomed monastery gardens full of herbs and medicinal plants or botanic gardens abundant with the exotic – gardens and parks have offered a place to dream and reflect for hundreds of years. The 50 most beautiful parks and gardens in Saxony-Anhalt have come together to create a green network to whisk you away along scented paths, past charming sculptures, romantic castles and manor houses to the most intimate places the state has to offer. Picnics, flower markets, nocturnal strolls or classical concerts in idyllic settings, create your own unforgettable moment.
Auf den Spuren von Bach mit Set-Caching
Weihnachten 2024 ist der Merseburger Dom in der Zeit zurückgesprungen und hat sich für den Fernsehspielfilm „Bach – ein Weihnachtswunder“ in die Thomaskirche Leipzig des 18. Jahrhunderts verwandelt. Der Film erzählt die Erstehungsgeschichte des Weihnachtsoratoriums von Johann Sebastian Bach, gespielt von Devid Stresow, in den Tagen vor Weihachten 1734. Der Merseburger Dom diente dabei als beeindruckende Kulisse für die herausragende Schlussszene des Films.
In einer Mission der kostenlosen Set-Caching App (verfügbar für iOS und Android) kann man in einem spannenden Zeitreise-Abenteuer die Entstehungsgeschichte des Films erleben. Die Mission „Im Takt der Zeit – Eine Zeitreise mit Bach“ führt zu den Originaldrehorten rund um den Merseburger Dom. Hier müssen sechs Zeiträtsel gelöst und fünf geheime Fakten in vier geheimen Botschaften gefunden werden, um das Portal zurück in die Gegenwart aktivieren zu können.
Die App steht im App Store und bei Google Play kostenlos zum Download bereit.
