Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg ( MAG-də-burg, German: [ˈmakdəbʊʁk] , locally [ˈmaχdəbʊɐ̯ç]; Low Saxon: Meideborg [ˈmaˑɪ̯debɔɐ̯x]) is the capital of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river.
Magdeburg
Otto I, the Holy Roman Emperor and the founder of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, was buried in the city's cathedral after his death. Magdeburg's version of German town law, known as Magdeburg rights, spread throughout Central and Eastern Europe. In the Late Middle Ages, Magdeburg was one of the largest and most prosperous German cities and a notable member of the Hanseatic League. One of the most notable people from the city was Otto von Guericke, famous for his experiments with the Magdeburg hemispheres.
Magdeburg
Magdeburg has experienced three major devastations in its history. In 1207 the first catastrophe struck the city, with a fire burning down large parts of the city, including the Ottonian cathedral. The Catholic League) sacked Magdeburg in 1631, resulting in the death of 25,000 non-combatants, the largest loss of the Thirty Years' War. During World War II the Allies bombed the city in 1945 and destroyed much of the city centre. Today, around 46% of the city consists of buildings from before 1950.