Up or down? When you arrive in Quedlinburg, in eastern Germany, the question of where to start your visit often arises, as the hill of the fortress attracts your attention. But usually the traveler has been informed before and knows that the concentration of wonders is found on the plain. Better from above, get a general view and go down to the Plaza del Grano, like someone who is tasting a box of chocolates and saves the best for last.
Miraculously saved from the bombings of World War II, Quedlinburg is among the most beautiful German cities, declared a World Heritage Site for its accumulation of more than two thousand half-timbered houses that make up the old core. Once the war was over, the deadly risks did not fade. The communist government of the Democratic Republic plotted a total demolition to spread the ugly concrete that the countries of the Soviet orbit were so welcome. Luckily they rethought it.
The castle was the first historical building of the town. In fact, until the defense was completed, with the two lofty towers that today dominate the landscape, the noble houses that now surround its base were not begun. From there Quedlinburg spread down the hill. The founding documents date back to the 10th century, so we are talking about a city that has a thousand years of history.
The classic image that one can have of a Central European fairytale city is the one offered by this town in the state of Saxony, nestled in the rural region of Harz. The houses stand shoulder to shoulder, with the facades painted in pastel colors, while the skeleton that configures them is visible. The windows, tiny but numerous in each building, speak – just like the very steep pink tile roofs – of harsh winters.
To go inside, it is best to take a place in one of the various breweries and restaurants that keep the wooden structure intact, in an absolutely "Frankenstein" environment, although the 19th century was not the most flourishing in Quedlinburg, but the Middle Ages. , in which belonging to the powerful Hanseatic League brought him good money. Later, the flower trade increased the strength and proliferation of these houses. By the way, one of them has become a museum. Follow the signs indicating the Fachwerkmuseum im Ständerbau. It is a perfectly restored 14th century building.
While strolling through Quedlinburg, you will pass by the popular Tower of Horror, the most dazzling vestige of the wall that enclosed the city. And also the neighborhood of artisans, where the labyrinth becomes more pronounced. Upon reaching the Plaza del Grano, a spacious and bright space, the Town Hall building plays a leading role.
Quedlinburg is only one hour from Magdeburg and less than two from Leipzig, advancing along competent German roads. The best thing to do is park south of the Bode River, both to enjoy a walk along the river that irrigates the city and to avoid getting into the maze of medieval streets with your vehicle.
