Art and Architecture of Cathedral of Magdeburg

The Cathedral of Magdeburg is rich in the art and architecture. It includes both antiques and modern art. The following list is only a summary of the most significant pieces of art:

Antique pillars that are made from marble and granite. These were used for the construction of the first building in 937.

The Baptismal font which is made of rose porphyritic rock. It was originally designed as a fountain with a hole in the center. This is the most significant art object among all objects of art and architecture of Cathedral of Magdeburg in this cathedral.

The Grave of Otto I. Otto was the holy Roman Emperor from 973.

The sculpture of Saint Maurice it was created around 1250. It is the first realistic characterization of an ethnic African in central European art.

The Magdeburger Ehrenmal by Ernst Barlach. This was ordered as a heroic war memorial.

The Lebensbaumkruzifix is a painted bronze sculpture. This sculpture was designed not only to be viewed from the front but from all sides, and many more.

The Cathedral of Magdeburg is rich not only in art but also in architecture. Now a day art and architecture of Cathedral Magdeburg has become very famous among the tourists of the world. The current Magdeburg cathedral was constructed over a period of 300 years. This is the first example of Gothic architecture style, in Germany. Gothic architecture was first developed in the 12th century in France. Like French gothic cathedrals, Magdeburg cathedral does not have flying buttresses as support of the walls. The towers of the church rise to 99, 25 and 100, 98 meters. These are the highest church towers in eastern Germany. Each side of the structure has an entrance, the south entrance leading into the religious residence which was largely ruined by fire. The current church was constructed at a different angle, and hence the cloister is at an odd angle with the church. The ground around the Elbe River in Magdeburg is soft, for that it is difficult to construct tall buildings, except for one large rock. So, the cathedral was constructed on top of the rock, called Domfelsen in German, it means Cathedral Rock. As the rock was not big enough for the cathedral only the north tower could be placed on a solid rock foundation on the other hand the south tower stands on soft ground.