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| Merseburg | ||
| federal state | Saxony-Anhalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 34.080 (2019) | |
| height | 88 m, 98 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The city with about 34,000 inhabitants Merseburg, a former imperial palace, is located in the south of the state Saxony-Anhalt, about 10 km south of Hall. Next to hall and Bitterfeld-Wolfen it is a center of the "chemistry triangle". Merseburg is heavily industrialized by the chemical plants Buna (north), Leuna (south) and the former open-cast lignite mining (Geiseltal) and coal refining to the west.
Although one of the oldest cities in the region (first documented mention in the 9th century) and a former bishopric, Merseburg today has a rather torn townscape with little due to the war damage in World War II and the reconstruction in the GDR times, which was not based on historical models coherent old building fabric. The two most important buildings (cathedral and castle), located on a hill, protrude from this.
The neighboring towns that have grown together with Merseburg Leuna and Schkopau are dealt with in this article.
background
In the early and high Middle Ages, Merseburg was one of the most important cities in what is now Central Germany. It was first mentioned in a document around 890. History connoisseurs associate it primarily with the so-called “Merseburg magic spells”, a collection of pagan incantations written in Old High German from the 9th or 10th century. In 968 Emperor Otto I founded the diocese of Merseburg. The city, which at that time was still near the eastern border of Germany, remained an important religious center with its Benedictine abbey and Romanesque cathedral until the 16th century. Merseburg was one of the preferred palatinates of Emperor Heinrich II. The diocese of Merseburg was comparatively small, but included such important cities as Leipzig.
The Reformation found its way into Merseburg in the middle of the 16th century. The Benedictine abbey was dissolved and the territory of the diocese was annexed by the secular electorate of Saxony. From the middle of the 17th to the 18th century, Merseburg was the residence of a branch of the Saxon dukes. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the city came under Prussian rule and became the administrative seat of a government district to which the south of the province of Saxony (corresponds roughly to today's southern Saxony-Anhalt, including the much larger city Hall) belonged.
In the beginning of the 20th century, Merseburg and especially its suburb of Schkopau became locations for the chemical industry. The Buna works in Schkopau were founded in 1936 as part of the National Socialists' self-sufficiency policy (i.e. independence from raw material imports) and were the first place where rubber was synthesized on a large scale. Was during the division of Germany Plastics and elastics from Schkopau a well-known term for plastics in the GDR. Large parts of the historic old town were replaced by "socialist" new buildings. After reunification, many workers lost their jobs because the factories, which were now largely unprofitable, had to close or massively change their production. Merseburg lost around a third of its population compared to the 1980s, and in 2015 the city still had around 34,000 inhabitants. The Bunawerke are now a subsidiary of the US group Dow Chemical.
getting there
By plane
The Leipzig Halle Airport
(IATA: LEJ) is about 30 km northeast and can be reached via the B 181 and A 9. There is no direct connection with public transport, so you have to change trains in Halle (approx. 45 minutes in total) or take a taxi (around € 50).
By train
Merseburg can be reached every two hours with the regional express lines RE 16 (Halle – Erfurt) and RE 18 (Halle – Jena) and every hour with the regional train lines RB 25 (Halle – Jena – Saalfeld) and RB 78 (Querfurt – Merseburg). Depending on the type of train, the journey from Halle takes about 10–12 minutes, from Erfurt 1:05 hours, from Magdeburg 1:07 hours (IC from Halle). Coming from Leipzig you have to change trains in Halle and with a 6-minute transfer time you only need 45 minutes, around 15 minutes less than the continuous bus from Leipzig.
The 1 railway station is located about 700 meters west of the city center.
The regional tram line 5 from Halle via Merseburg to Bad Dürrenberg (at 31 kilometers one of the longest tram lines in Germany) is not the fastest, but an unusual way to get there. It takes about 50 minutes to get from the city center of Halle to Merseburg.
By bus
Flixbus goes to Merseburg once or twice on trips from Berlin to Gera, Berlin to Munich (and beyond Munich towards Austria). The long-distance bus stops at the train station.
Bus route 131 runs every hour from Leipzig main station (via the western districts of Leipzig and the Nova Eventis shopping center in Günthersdorf) to Merseburg. The journey from Leipzig Hbf to the train station in Merseburg takes exactly one hour and costs 6 € for full-paying guests.
In the street
The A 38 leads west of the city Goettingen–Leipzig with the departures 
24 Merseburg-Nord and 25 Merseburg-Süd along. Merseburg can be reached from the north and south via the A 9 Berlin – Munich (Junction 17 Leipzig-West. The B 91 Halle – Merseburg– runs through Merseburg itself.Weissenfels–Time. It has been expanded to four lanes as far as Merseburg. There is also the B 181, which connects Leipzig and the aforementioned junction of the A 9 with Merseburg.
mobility
There are five bus lines in Merseburg and, from Halle, the Merseburger Überlandbahn (line 5 of the Halle tram). The central transfer points for buses are at the train station and, about 200 meters to the east, Merseburg-Zentrum with the tram.
Merseburg belongs to the tariff area of the Central German Transport Association (MDV). Travelers can use all network tickets that include the Merseburg tariff zone on all public transport. The Saxony-Anhalt (Saxony, Thuringia) ticket is also valid on city buses and trams.
Tourist Attractions
Churches
Since Merseburg was a bishopric from 968 to 981 and from 1004 to 1561, the city has a richly furnished one 1 Dom with four old towers. It was started in 1015. However, only the crypt, the round choir towers, the foundations of the west towers and the lower parts of the transept, including the two apses, date from the original Romanesque construction phase. Most of the cathedral, however, was rebuilt in the Gothic style. You will find many special features here. Among them the oldest bronze grave plate in Central Europe reminding of Rudolf von Rheinfelden (also Rudolf von Schwaben), the 1080 at Hohenmölsen fallen rival king. The remarkable stained glass from the 13th century were lost and replaced with new ones in the middle of the 20th century. The artist Charles Crodel, however, took up the medieval imagery. The Romanesque crucifix and a font from the 12th century have been preserved. In the "treasure chamber" on the south side of the cloister, outstanding pieces from the cathedral treasury are exhibited. These include valuable manuscripts such as an illustrated Bible from the 13th century, a Romanesque portable altar, an ivory box from the 13th century and an altarpiece, as well as the mummified hand of the opposing king Rudolf of Swabia. The romantically tuned Ladegast organ from the 1850s is one of the largest organs in Germany.
The famous ones are in the cathedral monastery archive Merseburg magic spells. A true-to-original facsimile can be viewed in the so-called “magic vault” of the cathedral.
2 St. Maximi Church. Three-aisled Gothic hall church from the 15th century. The towering neo-Gothic tower was added around 1870.
3 Church ruins St. Sixti. Remarkable mixed building: The Romanesque church from 1045 fell into ruin after the Thirty Years War. In 1889 its tower was converted into a water tower.
4 Neumarktkirche St. Thomae. The Romanesque church has lost its furnishings through long neglect and was restored after the fall of the Wall and furnished with contemporary works of art. It is known for the knotted column on the transept portal, which was once supposed to keep demons away from the church. The valuable Romanesque baptismal font in the cathedral comes from this church.
Castles
5 Merseburg Castle, Cathedral Square 9. Three-wing renaissance castle, which initially served as the residence of the bishops, later the electors and dukes of Saxony and finally the Prussian government president. Today the district administration, the music academy and the cultural history museum are located here. The latter provides information about the history of the region with exhibits from prehistory to modern times. Scenes from the George Clooney film The Monuments Men were turned in and around the castle. The castle has a beautiful baroque garden with an orangery, which is part of the “Garden Dreams Saxony-Anhalt” project.Open: March – October: daily 9 am–6pm; November – February: daily 10 am–4pm.
- The 6 Orangery
or Schlossgarten Salon was built by Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt from 1727 onwards.
- A Raven cage A local legend is illustrated in the castle garden: Bishop Thilo von Trotha condemned one of his servants for stealing his golden signet ring and had him executed. The accused protested his innocence even after he was beheaded. Later the ring was found in a raven's nest and the dead servant was relieved. The bishop bitterly regretted his hasty judgment and ordered a raven to be caught and exhibited as a constant reminder not to make decisions in anger. The cage was recently enlarged and the previously single bird was given a partner to meet animal welfare regulations.
7 Merseburg Estates, Oberaltenburg 2. Representative historical building from the 1890s. The provincial parliament of the Prussian province of Saxony met here (corresponds to the largest part of today's Saxony-Anhalt). While the executive was in Magdeburg, the parliament was in Merseburg.
Museums
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8 Willi-Sitte-Gallery, Domstrasse 15. Tel.: (0)3461-212231, Email: [email protected]..Willi Sitte (1921–2013) was one of the most important representatives of “socialist realism” in the GDR. However, he developed his own style, which is characterized by strongly expressive postures and almost baroque forms. The foundation collects paintings and graphics by Sitte and his affiliated artists. In addition, the gallery organizes changing exhibitions of various representatives of modern art, mostly from the region.
9 German Chemistry Museum (DChM), Günther-Adolphi-Strasse 2. Tel.: (0)3461-4416195, Email: [email protected]. After the collapse of the GDR and reunification, many East German chemical plants were closed. Some of their most remarkable gadgets and gadgets (around 5000 objects in total) were collected in this museum. The largest of these are exhibited in an open-air “technology park” outside the museum. The outstanding exhibits include a complete ammonia synthesis chamber from the early days of the Haber-Bosch process (named after its inventors, who were awarded the Nobel Prize) with an associated circulation pump and a chemical train.Open: Tue-Thu 9 am–2pm, Fri 9 am–12pm, Sat-Sun and public holidays 10 am–5pm, closed on Mondays.Price: Entry € 3.50, children € 2.
10 Aviation and Technology Museum Merseburg, Chestnut Promenade 50 (on a disused airfield). Tel.: (0)3461-525776. Huge private collection of airplanes, fire engines, cars, motorcycles, cinema projectors and computers, mainly makes from Eastern Bloc. Highlights include Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134 aircraft, MiG fighters, a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and a Mil Mi-8 helicopter.Open: Tue-Thu 9 am-3.30pm, Fri 9 am-2pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-3.30pm, closed on Mondays.Price: admission € 8, children € 4.
11 Railway Museum Kötzschau, Am Bahnhof 27, 06237 Leuna / OT Kötzschau. Tel.: 49 (0)162 497 71 27, Mobile: 49 (0)162 4977127, Email: [email protected]. 
Museum of the "Eisenbahnfreunde Kötzschau e.V." on the history of the railway line Leipzig - Großkorbetha according to the motto "Experience railway history!". The core is the historic entrance building of the Kötzschau train station, opened in 1856. Here the museum uses countless exhibits to show the very extensive history of the railway line between Leipzig and Großkorbetha. The "Leipzig-Leutzsch" railway operations field / training signal box is also of interest. In the outdoor area there is: a typical fully functional Reichsbahn standard barrier system and a few vehicles.Open: 2 times / month, each Sun 14: 00-18:; additional on special dates 10: 00-18: 00 (see here.Price: adults € 3, children (6-16 years) € 1.50, families (2-4) € 6.
Buildings
12 French fountain. Medieval fountain, stands in front of a passage between two vicariate houses. It is named after a French officer who drowned in this well after the Battle of Rossbach in 1757. In 1928 the fountain was slightly redesigned.
13 Market square with the old town hall. There is also a 16th century fountain on the market.
- Remains of the medieval city fortifications: 14 Black bastion and 15 Owl Tower
Schkopau
Schkopau is 3 kilometers north of the center of Merseburg on the Saale Cycle Path. From the Merseburg train station to Schkopau, it takes 3 minutes by regional train, and 12 minutes by tram from Merseburg center to Schkopau Castle.
- 16 Schkopau Castle. The origins of the castle go back to the 9th century. In the 16th century it was converted into a residential palace. In 1876 it was rebuilt again and has been kept in neo-renaissance style ever since. The castle is now used as a hotel.
- Saale-Elster-Aue with the longest railway bridge in Europe, the branching one 17 Saale-Elster valley bridge (approx. 8.6 km long, completed in 2013)
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Leuna
Leuna is located 5 km southeast of the city center of Merseburg, also on the Saale Cycle Path. The tram takes 13 minutes from Merseburg center to Sachsenplatz in the center of Leuna.
- 18 Leuna Works - brightly lit at night, an impressive sight
- Garden city of Leuna - A settlement built in the 1920s for the Leunawerk workforce with 102 workers' houses, 153 masters' houses, 165 salaried employees and 102 officials' houses, designed by Karl Barth according to the rules of Ebenezer Howard, the founder of the garden city movement
- 19 Leuna cultural center. Art gallery and event stage.
- 20 Leuna Plastic Park - Contrary to what one might think, “plastic” here does not mean plastic, but sculpture. The sculptures on display date from the 1950s and 60s, are largely in the style of “Socialist Realism” and were mainly created by artists from the region (e.g. Theo Balden, Fritz Cremer, Wieland Förster, Waldemar Grzimek and Ingeborg Hunzinger)
- 21 Wüsteneutzsch lock ruins (5 km east of Leuna or 9 km south-east of Merseburg via B 181 and L 183) - like the whole Elster-Saale Canal construction of the lock was abandoned in 1943 and never completed.
activities
- 1 Cathedral city cinema, Koenig-Heinrich-Str. 7th (Tram “Merseburg Zentrum”, 150 meters from the train station). Tel.: (0)3461-352853. Small private cinema with a special program.Price: € 6.50–9.50.
- Merseburg Organ Days - Festival for organ music in the cathedral and other churches, with national and international guests
- Cycling on the Saale Cycle Path
- Bathing in Wallendorfer See (Burgliebenau, 8 km northeast)
- Geiseltalsee (Frankleben, 8 km southwest)
shop
In Merseburg itself there is the usual mix of dike, Fiel, Ross and Tengelmann pedestrian zones in the provincial city. The nearby hall offers a wider choice. If you like the mall: The nova eventis shopping center in Günthersdorf, 15 km to the east, can be reached via the B 181.
- 1 EDEKA Center, Kollenbeyer Weg 2, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: 49 (0)3461 47030. Open: Mon - Wed, Sat 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thu Fri 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- 2 REWE, Lassallestrasse 27, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: 49 (0)3461 352660. Open: Mon - Fri 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., Sat 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- 3 Kaufland, Querfurter Str. 16, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: 49 (0)3461 56170. Open: Mon - Fri 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sat 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
kitchen
Cheap
- 1 Marco Polo Pizzeria, König Heinrichstrasse 8, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 210421. Italian kitchen.Open: Wed Fri 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 5 p.m. - 11 p.m., Sat - Tue Thu 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.Price: pizzas from € 4.90.
medium
- 2 To the rail, Naumburger Str. 232, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 500485, Email: [email protected]. German cuisine. Brunch is offered on the first Sunday of each month. A holiday apartment consisting of a double room is also available (per night, depending on occupancy, from € 20, breakfast € 5 per person).Open: Mon Tue are closed, Wed Thu 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Fri Sat 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 5 p.m. - 11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 12/24 December 31 closed.Price: main course € 8.50–14.60; Sunday brunch € 14.50.
- 3 Taj Mahal, Burgstrasse 6, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 2769066, Fax: (0)3461 2769068, Email: [email protected]. Indian cuisine in the former restaurant & cafe "Am Entenplan".Open: daily 11 am–10pm.Price: main course € 8.90-14.90.
- 4 Dynasty restaurant, Teichstrasse 2, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 214066, Email: [email protected]. Asian cuisine.Open: Mon Tue 5.30 p.m. - 10.00 p.m., Wed - Sun 11.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m. - 10.00 p.m.Price: lunch € 7.90–9.90, main course € 9.50–16.50.
- 5 Restaurant & Cafe "ben zi bena", Domplatz 6, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 824930, Fax: (0)3461 213587, Email: [email protected]. Open: Every day.
- 6 Café at the monastery, Am Kloster 1, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 824840. In addition to cakes, the menu also offers some German and Mediterranean dishes.Open: May - Oct Tue - Sun 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Mondays are closed; Nov - Apr Tue - Sun 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mondays are closed.Price: main course € 6.20–11.20.
- 7 Ratskeller Merseburg, Ölgrube 2, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 289983, Fax: (0)3461 289965, Email: [email protected]. Next to the restaurant there is also a vaulted cellar and a cocktail bar. German cuisine with events such as a knight's dinner for € 21.90 per person.
- 8 Restaurant Zur Sülze, Klobikauer Str. 104, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 212825, Email: [email protected].
- 9 Zeus tavern, Gotthardstrasse 36, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 2603829, Fax: (0)3461 3719915, Email: [email protected]. Greek kitchen.Open: Mon is closed, Tue - Sun 11.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m. - 11 p.m.Price: lunch dishes € 5.20–6.90, main dishes € 6.90–17.50.
Upscale
- 10 Ritter's wine bars, Grosse Ritterstrasse 22, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 33660, Fax: (0)3461 336612, Email: [email protected]. Restaurant with German cuisine using regional products. A small hotel (9 rooms) is attached.Open: Mo - Fr from 1 p.m., Sa from 5 p.m., closed on Sundays.Price: main course € 14.90–24.90; Single room € 49, double room from € 65 (plus € 9 breakfast buffet).
nightlife
accommodation
Cheap
- 1 Hotel & Pension "Am Park", Gutenbergstrasse 18, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 215472, Fax: (0)3461 215481, Email: [email protected]. Open: The reception is open daily from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.Price: Apartments from 3 people € 27.50.
- 2 Pension Gutjahr, Naumburger Strasse 100, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 503650, Fax: (0)3461 503650. A covered summer terrace including a barbecue area is available.Feature: pension.Price: Single from € 22, double from € 36.
- 3 A special kind of guesthouse at Krummen Tor, Domstrasse 10, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 248611, Fax: (0)3461 200471, Email: [email protected]. Feature: pension.Price: single room from 37 €, double room from 49 € (breakfast 7 € surcharge per person).
medium
- 4 Check-Inn Hotel, Dorfstrasse 12, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: 49 3461 305550, Fax: 49 3461 3055511, Email: [email protected]. Business hotel with standard equipment, sufficiently large rooms in a quiet location. Very good Italian restaurant in the house.Check-in: 3 p.m.-11 p.m., otherwise by appointment.Check-out: 07.00-11.00.Price: single room from € 48.50, double room from € 56 (with a direct booking there is a 5% discount).
- 5 Hotel Zum Goldenen Löwen, Von-Harnack-Str. 1 - 5, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 201591, Fax: (0)3461 201592, Email: [email protected]. The hotel has a restaurant with home-style cooking and a beer garden.Price: single room from € 50, double room from € 60 (breakfast € 5 surcharge per person); Parking fee € 5 per day.
- 6 Merseburg raven, Ottoweg 19, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 525425, Fax: (0)3461 525427, Email: [email protected]. There is a restaurant with a cozy beer garden.Open: Restaurant: daily 11 a.m. - 2.30 p.m. from 5 p.m.Price: single room from 50 €, double room from 70 €; Surcharge for breakfast 5 € per person.
- 7 Skyhotel Merseburg, Thüringer Weg 28, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 342620, Fax: (0)3461 34262222, Email: [email protected]. Open: breakfast daily 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., on weekends 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.Price: single room from € 44, double room from € 54, suite from € 89.
- 8 Hotel restaurant at the city stadium, Hohndorfer Weg 10, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 212060, Fax: (0)3461 212245, Email: [email protected]. The restaurant offers regional specialties and home-style cuisine.Open: Restaurant: Mon is closed, Tue 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Wed - Sat 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Sun 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Price: single room from € 50, double room from € 70 (including breakfast buffet).
Upscale
- 9 Radisson Blu Hotel ****, Oberaltenburg 4, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: 49 (0)3461 45200, Fax: 49 (0)3461 452100, Email: [email protected]. Four-star hotel (133 rooms) in an original mansion from the 18th century (as well as a modern extension) in the middle of the old town, right next to the palace gardens and the estate. In the restaurant there is local and international cuisine.Open: "Belle Époque" restaurant: daily 06: 00-23: 00.Price: DR from € 76 / BB.
health
- 1 Sun pharmacy, Straße des Friedens 87, 06217 Merseburg =. Tel.: (0)3461 509267, Fax: (0)3461 509268, Email: [email protected]. Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 6.30 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- 2 Pond pharmacy, Eisenbahnstrasse 1, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 214123, Fax: (0)3461 214133, Email: [email protected]. Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 6.30 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Practical advice
- 3 Tourist information center, Burgstrasse 5, 06217 Merseburg. Tel.: (0)3461 19433.
trips
- 22 Geiseltalsee (Frankleben on the eastern shore of the lake is 9 km southwest of Merseburg on the Salzstraßen cycle path, 7 minutes by train) - The Geiseltalsee, which emerged from an open-cast lignite mine, is just under 19 km2 the largest artificial lake in Germany. (Webcam)
- Bad Lauchstädt (11 km to the west) - Goethe Theater and spa facilities.
- Bad Durrenberg (12 km south-east on the Saale cycle path, 25 minutes by tram) - Europe's largest contiguous graduation tower, spa gardens.
- Hall (16 km north, B 91 or Saale cycle path, 12 minutes by train) - the most populous city in Saxony-Anhalt with a well-preserved old town, Handel city.
- Weissenfels (19 km south, B 91 or Saaleradweg, 15 minutes by train) - city at the entrance to Saale-Unstrut region; baroque castle Neu-Augustusburg with shoe and city museum
- Lützen (20 km southeast, B 181 and L 184) - the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf was killed in the Thirty Years' War in the Battle of Lützen. At Großgörschen, 6 km southeast of Lützen, the first battle of the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon took place in May 1813. The OT Röcken is the birthplace of Friedrich Nietzsche.
- Markranstädt (22 km southeast, B 181 and B 186) - the Kulkwitzer See (water sports) separates this city from Leipzig-Grünau; the Altranstädter Schloss was the political center of Northern Europe from 1706 to 1707.
- Leipzig (30 km east, B 181) - most populous city in Saxony, music and trade fair city.
- Naumburg (31 km south, B 91 and B 176 or Saale cycle path, 20-25 minutes by train) - center of the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region, late Romanesque cathedral.
literature
Web links
- https://www.merseburg.de/ - Official website of Merseburg
- Merseburg as a city on the Saale
