Magdeburg - Cathedral

The construction of the "Cathedral of Saints Catherine and Maurice" started 1209. Two years ago, the church that had been on this place since 932, burnt down with most of the town on Good Friday . This
is one of the oldest churches in Germany, clearly influenced by the then new gothic style, developed in France. Otto I the Great and his wife Edith of England have their graves here (see below). The steeples (finished 1520) seen here from the cloister are about 100m in height. The cloister itself dates back to 1160, when it was used by the benedictine monks of the monastry "St. Maurice".

During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) Magdeburg was raided and probably 20.000 inhabitants lost their lives. A small group of 4000 people survived the "Sack of Magdeburg" by seeking refuge in the cathedral. Begging on his knees before the conqueror the head priest saved them.

Here is the grave of the "royal couple":
www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4328456651/