Magdeburg

Saturday 28 April

We arrived in Magdeburg at 4:30 and went ashore to walk around the town, first mentioned in 805.  Emperor Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor, lived for most of his reign in the town and was buried in the cathedral after his death. Magdeburg's version of German Town Law, known as Magdeburg Rights, spread throughout Central and Eastern Europe.  The city is also well known for the 1631 Sack of Magdeburg, which hardened Protestant resistance during the Thirty Year’s War.  In 2005 Magdeburg celebrated its 1200th anniversary.

Walking along a road parallel with the river we passed several ancient churches some which have been converted to community centres and arrived at the Magdeberg Cathedral which is in the process of major restoration works but we arrived just after closing time.

Walking back to the town square we passed a most unusual building, “The Green Citadel” an Art Deco building designed in 1928 which was so unusual amongst all the 300 year old buildings.  In the town square in front of the Town Hall is a gold statue commemorating a scientist from the 1600s.  

We arrived back at the ship just in time to change for the Captain’s cocktail party and dinner and after dinner we all met in the lounge for the prize giving for the various competitions.  Ann won a prize for the longest German word, actually a series of words without spaces between them and unlike other entrants, she was able to recite it and provide a translation, the others had just done a Google search and had no idea how to pronounce the words or what they meant.

The night finished with a presentation of photos taken during the trip and we all retired to our cabins to pack as we had to have our cases ready for collection at 7:30 in the morning.