Quedlinburg was one of the first capitals of Germany during the Saxonian-Ottonian dynasty (919-1024). Since the Middle Ages, it has been a prosperous trading town. One thing that makes it so important to European history is the amount of old European architecture. The town is a perfect example of a medieval European trading town. Within the town, a large number of historic, timber framed buildings still standing. Over 1,300 of the original buildings are still standing.
The Collegiate Church of St Servatius
Within the city is the Collegiate Church of St Servatius, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture and one of the most highly esteemed churches of the East Franconian German Empire during the Middle Ages. Built between 1070 and 1129, the church is a visible testimony to the Saxonian-Ottonian ruling dynasty and the first German King from the Saxonian dynasty. It is the burial cite of the first king of Germany, Henry the Fowler, and his wife Mathilde. The church was later used for the Damenstift, or nuns, of the city. They would live their and worship in it and it remained that way for almost 900 years. Today, it is a museum and a concert venue for the Quedlinburg Summer of Music.
Quedlinburg illustrates the development of a typical medieval town, tracing back to its origins as a castle village with several separate surrounding settlements. The notable timber-framed houses have undergone little or no modification. Because of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), some elements within the town have lost the authenticity of material and construction. The GDR favored the use of industrially prefabricated structures to replace buildings demolished during the late 1980s. Fortunately, these lost elements represent a small portion of the buildings in the town.
Timber-framed houses in Quedlinburg
As of October 21, 1991, the historic town is protected as a monument under the Law of Monument Conservation of State of Sachsen-Anhalt and 770 individual buildings are protected as historic buildings. The Town Council of Quedlinburg has initiated various projects designed to improve the preservation of the historic quarters of the town, including a new evaluation and recording of monuments, urban architecture studies for the preservation and development of Quedlinburg, and preparation of new regulations relating to the historic sections of Quedlinburg. In 1994, Quedlinburg was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
View of Quedlinburg from top of the Collegiate Church of St Servatius