The more than 1000-year-old town of Quedlinburg, situated on the north-eastern edge of the Harz Mountains, is a lively place that is caught between the past and the future. The Romanesque buildings, 2069 half-timbered houses and villas of the Wilhelminian and Art Nouveau periods tell the story of the history and culture of bygone eras. The contrast is provided by a young art scene attracted by the fascination of the unique ambience.
The castle hill ensemble with the Renaissance castle, the Collegiate Church of St. Servatius and its famous cathedral treasure, the thousand-year-old Wiperti Church and the remains of St. Mary's Monastery, as well as the historic old town with its 2069 half-timbered houses from eight centuries, were included in the UNESCO list of protected cultural monuments in 1994 because of their extraordinary significance. With a built-up town centre covering almost 90 hectares, Quedlinburg with its buildings from all style and time periods is one of the largest area monuments in Germany.
The Abbey garden at the foot of the castle hill and the adjacent 'Brühl' park are part of the 'Garden Dreams' project of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The Lyonel Feininger Gallery with the most extensive collection of prints by the famous German-American painter and graphic artist and the Klopstock House, the birthplace of the poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, which as a museum gives an impression of the poet's life and work, document the traces left by these famous personalities in Quedlinburg.
For those interested in art, culture and music, Quedlinburg offers a wide range of galleries and exhibitions, the North Harz Theatre, the Quedlinburg Music Summer and various other musical events.
Nature lovers and hikers are also drawn to Quedlinburg, as this is where the 75 km Selketal-Stieg starts or ends, leading through the varied and historic landscapes of the Lower Harz Mountains.
In December, Quedlinburg is famous for its Christmas market which presents itself against a magnificent backdrop of half-timbered houses. On the first three weekends of 'Advent', more than twenty of Quedlinburg's most beautiful courtyards open their otherwise closed doors and present visitors with rarities and small treasures in a Christmas ambience.
