Steeped in history: a thousand years in the heart of Germany.

During the Middle Ages, the towns and cities in the present-day state of Saxony-Anhalt were the cultural centres of the Holy Roman Empire. The Romanesque Route provides a link between seven cathedral towns, all with a wealth of half-timbered buildings, castles and awe-inspiring religious architecture. It incorporates sites in Saxony-Anhalt where history was made, some dating back a thousand years. The south-west of the region is characterised by the Harz foothills, while the Elbe and Saale rivers, together with the Mittelland and Elbe-Havel canals, still help to set the pace of life, work and relaxation.

Halberstadt and Quedlinburg

Halberstadt has been dominated by its slender church towers since the Middle Ages. The 11th-century Church of Our Lady is the only Romanesque church with four towers in central Germany and St. Stephen's Cathedral is a rare example of French cathedral architecture. After the Reformation the cathedral was used by both Protestants and Catholics, which proved to be a blessing for the cathedral treasury whose contents remained largely untouched and are now on display in a new permanent exhibition.

The Collegiate Church of St. Servatius in Quedlinburg (UNESCO World Heritage) is an impressive, high-Romanesque edifice with one of the oldest and most valuable medieval ecclesiastical treasuries in the Germanspeaking world. Many exquisite items, such as intricate ivory carvings and a beautifully crafted antique stone vessel, are believed to have been presented to the church by Ottonian emperors in the 10th century.

Naumburg and Merseburg

Naumburg Cathedral, which was built in various phases, is a fine example of early Gothic architecture. Its highlights are the two choir screens and the carved stone figures of its founders, Ekkehard II Margrave of Meissen and his beautiful wife Uta. The treasure vault contains treasures from the cathedral chapter including exquisite manuscripts, magnificent winged altars, paintings and sculptures.

Merseburg Cathedral, dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. Lawrence, resonates with the magnificent sound of one of the largest Romantic-period organs anywhere in Germany. Also worth a visit is the cathedral treasury with the 10th-century Merseburg Incantations, some of the earliest texts written in the German language.

Magdeburg

Magdeburg, the present-day capital of Saxony-Anhalt, has the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany. Dedicated to St. Maurice and St. Katherine, and formerly the cathedral of the Magdeburg archbishopric, it is the last resting place of Emperor Otto I, who donated various features to the cathedral after returning from Ravenna. By contrast, "DIE GRÜNE ZITADELLE® VON MAGDEBURG", a project realised by the architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, is an opulent embodiment of modernism and the complete antithesis of the cathedral's monumental design.

Havelberg

In the early Middle Ages this small town in the Altmark was a spearhead of Christian missionary work. This earliest diocese east of the Elbe was founded by Otto I, still king in 948 AD, with the aim of converting the West Slavs. St. Mary's Cathedral is the most vivid reminder of that period. The Prignitz Museum, founded almost 100 years ago, also offers insights into the town's colourful history.

Halle (Saale)

Halle (Saale) is on the southern section of the Romanesque Route. It is the birthplace of George Frideric Handel, a composer who enjoyed celebrity status even during his lifetime. The cathedral dating back over 700 years is one of the venues for Halle's annual Handel Festival.

Zeitz

Zeitz was once an important centre of royal and ecclesiastical power; today its former grandeur is reflected at baroque Moritzburg Palace. The palace grounds incorporate themed gardens such as a pleasure garden and a Japanese garden. One of the town's attractions is a subterranean system of around 300 passages and caves, originally built as storage for freshly brewed beer.

Stendal

The old quarter with its red-brick buildings is like a treasure trove of history and stories. Don't miss the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and the town hall with the statue of Roland, the patron of the town's annual festival in June.