Discover Halberstadt: Cathedral, museums and history

Halberstadt brings together cultural themes that can be clearly distinguished: Gothic architecture, medieval church treasures, literary history and Jewish history. St. Stephen’s and St. Sixtus Cathedral and the cathedral treasury represent different areas of focus; the Gleimhaus offers an introduction to literary history, while the Berend Lehmann Museum explores the history of Jews in Halberstadt. When planning your trip, you can focus on the themes that interest you most.

Gothic architecture and medieval cathedral treasury

St. Stephen’s and St. Sixtus Cathedral was built between 1236 and 1486, following French cathedral models, and is one of Germany’s most significant Gothic cathedrals. Its construction period and French models provide two specific historical points of reference for its architecture. Those interested in Gothic ecclesiastical architecture will find a clearly defined focus in Halberstadt.

The Halberstadt Cathedral Treasury comprises more than 300 valuable exhibits and is one of the world’s most significant medieval church treasuries. Its holdings include goldsmiths’ work, liturgical vestments, sculptures and textiles such as the Abraham Angel tapestry. These examples span different kinds of objects: works of craftsmanship, vestments, sculptures and textiles. This makes it possible to consider the collection’s focus separately from the cathedral’s architecture.

The Gleimhaus and Jewish history

The Gleimhaus is one of Germany’s oldest museums dedicated to poets. It was established in 1862 in Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim’s former home, near Halberstadt Cathedral. The Gleimhaus also houses Gleim’s so-called “Temple of Friendship” portrait gallery. It includes numerous writers and other notable figures of the 18th century. The site thus brings together a historic residence and a gallery whose scope extends beyond a single person.

The permanent exhibition “Koscher, Klaus & Kupfer” at the Berend Lehmann Museum offers a different cultural perspective. It presents the history of Jews in Halberstadt. Its focus differs from the literary history of the Gleimhaus and the medieval themes of the cathedral and its treasury.

A guided tour on the Jewish history of Halberstadt visits several named locations. It begins at the Klaussynagoge in the former Jewish quarter, continues via Peterstreppe, Domplatz and the Jewish school Hascharat Zwi, and ends with a visit to the art project “And the living shall take it to heart…” at the site of the destroyed Baroque synagogue, as well as the Berend Lehmann Museum in the Mikwenhaus. If you plan to take this tour, check the booking arrangements and date before your trip.

The Harz as a broader travel destination

The Harz provides the broader travel context. The Harz–Brunswick Land–Ostfalen UNESCO Geopark includes the Harz. The Harz National Park has eight visitor centres and national park houses offering information about the park, hiking tips, exhibitions and film screenings. The national park also has 560 kilometres of signposted trails leading to particularly scenic viewpoints. These details relate to the Harz as a broader travel destination; the cultural themes described in Halberstadt are the cathedral, cathedral treasury, Gleimhaus and Jewish history.

Discover more destinations: Langenstein, Schachdorf Ströbeck, Osterwieck, Quedlinburg, Hedersleben, Oberharz Am Brocken, Selke-Aue, Huy.

Go to the broader travel overview: Harz.