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Quedlinburg - UNESCO Heritage Site With Medieval Half-timbered Buildings

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June 29, 2013

Quedlinburg, in the foothills of the Harz mountains, is one of the most popular destinations in Germany. UNESCO has declared it a world heritage site, especially because of its fascinating old town, which has survived almost unchanged for centuries.

Castle Hill, with St. Servatius, the former collegiate church of Quedlinburg Abbey, dominates the town. It’s often the first stop for tourists: there they can admire the medieval cathedral treasure and stand at the tomb of the first German king, Heinrich I. Once they leave the church, they can look down at the sea of red roofs in the town. All that is Quedlinburg’s old town. Miraculously, the old town has withstood many wars nearly undamaged. It has more than 1,300 half-timbered buildings, more than in any other German city. You can stroll through the narrow lanes admiring all the variations - sometimes small and lopsided, sometimes richly ornamented and colorful. The Lyonel Feininger Gallery lends the medieval metropolis a modern touch. It displays the largest collection of graphic art by the German-American artist.

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