Special guided tour "Thietmar von Merseburg" for International Museum Day

25 July 2025 marks the 1050th anniversary of the birth of Thietmar of Merseburg. The Bishop of Merseburg, who ruled from 1009 to 1018, is one of the most important chroniclers of the Middle Ages. He came to the see of Merseburg in 1009 through the mediation of Magdeburg Archbishop Tagino. Here he had to deal primarily with the problems surrounding the re-establishment of the diocese in 1004 and the construction of a new cathedral. He was particularly close to King Henry II, which was also reflected in the large number of visits the ruler made to Merseburg. Numerous documents in the Merseburg Cathedral Abbey archive bear witness to Thietmar's successful endeavours to restore the original possessions of the Merseburg diocese through royal donations. In doing so, the bishop did not shy away from forgeries, which were underpinned by his chronological accounts.

During the special guided tour of Merseburg Cathedral and the cathedral treasury, we follow in the footsteps of Thietmar, shed light on his life and work and present selected works from the cathedral treasury.

The aim of International Museum Day is to draw attention to the thematic diversity of the more than 6,500 museums in Germany and museums worldwide. The day of action is organised annually by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and highlights a different theme from museum work.

Prior booking via our Ticket shop or our Visitor Centre is required.