History & City
Hardly any other city documents Germany’s past as closely as Magdeburg, capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Its 1200 years of turbulent history are reflected in its many well-preserved monuments and relics of bygone ages. Magdeburg started life as a trading post on the borders of the Roman Empire. Under Emperor Otto I (912-973) the town enjoyed both royal and international repute. Over the centuries to come, Magdeburg went through hard times in which it suffered fateful incidents and destruction, for example in the Thirty Years War (17 th century) or during World War II. However, the current Magdeburg, accommodating 230,000 inhabitants on the banks of the River Elbe, is a truly pleasant place to live. Since 1990, the year after the German reunification, Magdeburg has been the capital of the newly founded state of Saxony-Anhalt, and has once more become the political centre of a region in which it had played a crucial role for over one thousand years. Also, it is a commercial hub with splendid sports facilities and significant cultural scenery. The city centre, being situated next to the university campus and to the ISS, hosts the Opera House and the drama theatre, a well-reputed puppet theatre which also stages classical dramas, as well as cinemas, a communal library, nightclubs, bars and restaurants.