The smooth with the rough: Magdeburg

Magdeburg is 1,200 years old, making it one of the oldest cities in Germany's new federal states, although the course of history has not always been smooth. It has repeatedly been ravaged by war and destruction due to its position as an imperial seat, Hanseatic city and Prussian fortified town. But it has always held its faith in the future, reinvented itself and given priority to restoring and preserving its cultural heritage.

The multi-tasking Otto von Guericke

The state capital of Saxony-Anhalt is a gift – and not only for its visitors. Otto the Great, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 962, was so enamoured with his favourite residence that he gave it to his wife Edith as a dowry. Magdeburg's citizens still honour 'their' Otto, but the city's fate lay in the hands of another Otto for a long time: the great politician and scientist Otto von Guericke, who lived in Magdeburg through the difficult period during and after the Thirty Years' War and served as his home city's architect, protector and mayor for a total of 50 years. The Otto von Guericke Museum pays homage to his many talents with guided tours, events and a permanent exhibition. Historical and new experiments – many of which are interactive – provide museum-goers with deep insights into his scientific work. Magdeburg's university also bears his name.

Significant museums, high-quality theatre

In recent years, the museums in Magdeburg have regularly featured excellent exhibitions on a whole host of subjects related to art, culture and learning. New collections and exhibitions have also been established and the top-flight Technology Museum has opened with no expense or effort spared. The three other major museums are the Cultural History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Art Museum in the Convent of our Lady. Magdeburg also offers high-calibre entertainment at its opera house, Schauspielhaus theatre and puppet theatre, and there are many independent theatre groups and German-style cabaret performances to enjoy.

From the Magdeburg Horseman to currywurst in the city centre

On Alter Markt square, not far from the famous cathedral, is the celebrated Magdeburg Horseman. This bronze replica of the first freestanding equestrian statue north of the Alps was created around 1240 and depicts the revered Emperor Otto I – or at least that is what the people of Magdeburg believe. The original is on display in all its glory in the Cultural History Museum, to where it was moved in 1967. With 2.5 square metres of retail space per inhabitant, Magdeburg's city-centre shopping area is one of Germany's top destinations for shoppers. Nearby Hasselbachplatz square and the surrounding streets are lined with dozens of pubs, bars and restaurants plus one of the best-known currywurst bars in Germany, 'Curry 54'. Hassel Night Line also takes place here – a twice-a-year street festival with open-air stages and music on every narrow street.

Those who prefer to relax with a good book should visit the birthplace of the poet Erich Weinert. This house hosts exhibitions and cultural events organised by the Magdeburg Literary Centre, such as the Magdeburg Literature Festival. It is also home to the archives of Erich Weinert and the dramatist Georg Kaiser, who were born in Magdeburg around the same time but never actually met. Visitors will encounter both men here – as well as a city that is an exciting encounter in itself.