The "Great Cathedral Repair" 200 years ago marked the beginning of a chapter that not only shaped the history of Magdeburg Cathedral, but also the early awareness of monument preservation in Prussia.
When King Friedrich Wilhelm III attended a concert in Magdeburg Cathedral in September 1825, he was made aware of the ruinous state of the important building. As a result, the monarch strongly advocated the restoration of the building. The Museum of Cultural History Magdeburg is using the start of this "Great Cathedral Repair" 200 years ago as an opportunity to place the work on the cathedral in a comprehensive historical context. In retrospect, the restoration proves to be a milestone for the emerging awareness of historical and monument preservation in Prussia in the early 19th century. This reference to an idealized and mythicized medieval origin also played a decisive role in the nation-building that was beginning at the time. The construction work in Magdeburg, which began 200 years ago, is thus emblematic of decisive historical developments that continue to have an impact in Europe to this day.
Special exhibition "Building (on) the past" - room documentary © KHM, Photo: Charlen Christoph
The special exhibition will be divided into various sections covering around 600 square meters, which will focus on topics such as the reference to medieval topoi and the associated search for identity, the beginning of systematic monument preservation in Prussia and the objectives, planning and phases of the "Great Cathedral Repair" itself.
September 11, 2025 to May 17, 2026
