Special exhibitions
In the anniversary year "Consecrated for eternity. 1000 years of the consecration of Merseburg Cathedral", various exhibition projects invite visitors to discover hidden cathedral treasures. You can also visit unique special exhibitions in the cathedral and castle ensemble in 2021, for example in the Cultural History Museum Merseburg Castle or in the castle garden parlour.
"Jahr1000Schätze" at Merseburg Cathedral
6 January 2021 until 31 October 2021
Southern retreat in Merseburg Cathedral
The exhibition project travels back a century in the history of the cathedral month by month. For each century, two objects are selected from the Merseburg Cathedral Treasure and Cathedral Abbey Archive, which exemplify the political, social and artistic developments of the respective era. The Jahr1000Schätze become ambassadors of times long past and tell us about the changes and upheavals they have experienced. The journey begins in January in the 20th century and ends in October in the consecration year 1021.
The return of the Merseburg Cathedral Treasure
9 May 2021 until 31 October 2021
Chapter house in Merseburg Cathedral
For the anniversary of the consecration, selected items from the Merseburg Cathedral treasury are returning to Merseburg from the Dresden State Art Collections for a special exhibition. With the end of the Saxe-Merseburg secondary dynasty in 1738, not only did the dominion revert to the Electorate of Saxony, but large parts of the episcopal pontificals from Merseburg Cathedral were also transferred to the electoral collections in Dresden. In the anniversary year, magnificent items such as the mitre of Merseburg Bishop Friedrich II von Hoym, valuable pontifical gloves and Rudolf von Rheinfelden's dagger can be viewed in Merseburg once again.
The original Merseburg magic spells
2. until 31 October 2021
St Mary's Chapel in Merseburg Cathedral
For conservation reasons, the original manuscript of the Merseburg Magic Spells can only be shown on very special occasions. The 1000th anniversary of the consecration of Merseburg Cathedral is one such occasion. Take advantage of this unique opportunity and be enchanted by Merseburg's greatest treasure in October.
The "Elisabeth Shrine"
A light sculpture by Philipp Schönborn
11 August to 21 November 2021
Crypt of Merseburg Cathedral
Merseburg Cathedral is one of the oldest places where St Elizabeth of Thuringia was venerated. As early as 1240, shortly after her canonisation, an altar for the veneration of Elisabeth stood in Merseburg Cathedral: one of the earliest examples of the cult of Elisabeth. In the year celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral, a special work of art draws attention to this early veneration of the saint: the "Elisabeth Shrine" by artist Philipp Schönborn. For the past four years, the luminous work of art has been travelling to the places where Elisabeth lived or where she was venerated early on. Stops have included Erfurt Cathedral, St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Naumburg Cathedral and, most recently, Bamberg Cathedral. The light sculpture will be on display in the crypt of Merseburg Cathedral from 11 August to 21 November.
The Merseburg Cathedral in pictures
Paintings, prints, drawings and photographs from the 17th century to the present day. With works by pupils of the Domgymnasium Merseburg
7 August to 31 October 2021
Cultural History Museum Merseburg Castle
The Museum of Cultural History at Merseburg Castle is organising an exhibition of artistic views of this important sacred building to mark the anniversary of the cathedral's consecration. The selected works include exterior and interior views of the cathedral, depictions of interesting details in the church interior and the cloister. Starting with a pen and ink drawing of the entire area of the cathedral grounds from around 1660, copperplate engravings, lithographs, drawings and paintings from the 18th to 20th centuries and photographs from 1876 onwards, the exhibition also includes works by contemporary artists from Merseburg and Halle (including Kerstin Alexander, Iris Band, Jochen Ehmke, Hans Rothe and Klaus-Dieter Urban).
There are also two cabinet exhibitions within the exhibition: "The cathedral on postcards from over a hundred years" and "Cathedral pupils see their cathedral". The latter was created in collaboration with the Merseburg Cathedral Grammar School and shows drawings and photographs by pupils from various year groups.
Altar of Europe
Open studio and viewing until 31 October 2021
Merseburg Castle Garden Salon
The Leipzig artist ANTOINETTE set up an open studio in Merseburg's Schlossgarten Salon to complete her work "Altar of Europe". For the past three years, her work on the altar has taken her across Europe, including to Prague and Vienna. The five metre high and 20 metre wide work of art was complemented in Merseburg by four panels, the Merseburg Magic Panels, for which the artist was inspired by the Merseburg magic spells. Freedom, letting go, healing and joy are depicted on the four panels. The altar is now complete and can be viewed in the castle garden parlour until the end of October.
