INTRODUCTION
Havelberg was mentioned for the first time in 948 in a document as a diocesan town, but the construction of the Dom St. Marien cathedral and the premonstratense monastery which is a part of it began only in the XIIth century. Today the cathedral, consecrated in 1170, is the most characteristic building of Havelberg. It has Gothic and Romanesque elements; the later are the reason why the “Road of the Romanesque Period” passes through the town. The Paradiessaal and the cathedral cloister have excellent acoustic and have often been concerts venues. Also very interesting is the 100 years old Prignitz-Museum.
HISTORY
The prerequisite for today’s cathedral in Havelberg by the order of the Premonstratensians was the Wendenkreuzzug (Wenden Crusade) in 1147. The cathedral was rebuilt in the Romanesque style as a Bishop’s church and equipped with a regulated Cathedral chapter made of Premonstratensian canons. After a major fire damage, the originally Romanesque building was rebuilt in Gothic style between 1279 and 1330. The rood screen and the side choir screens were built around 1400.
The cathedral and the town church of St. Laurentius have belonged to a common parish since 1996. In 1996 the cathedral became the property of the Cathedral Foundation of the State of Saxony-Anhalt.
ARCHITECTURE AND FURNITURE
The cathedral is a flat-roofed three-aisled basilica with a ribbed vault. Quarry stone from greywacke from a quarry near the village Plötzky was used as the building main material. The church owes its architectural and historical importance to the west building, which, with its completely ornamentless, massive form as a windowless block, represents the most decisive realization of the Saxon “Westriegel” (west front architecture) in German architecture.
In the years 1840/1841 the Prussian state paid for a restoration of the cathedral, during which the western building was given a neo-Gothic western portal in line with contemporary tastes and stucco cornices were installed inside. From 1907 to 1909, the foundations and damaged vaults had been again fundamentally repaired. The west building got an additional five-arcade neo-Romanesque bell storey with a new roof turret and the neo-Gothic west portal from the 19th century was replaced by a new one in Romanesque style.
Inside there are grisaille ornamental windows, the triumphal cross group, three sandstone chandeliers and the oak choir stalls from around 1300. The 20 reliefs and 14 sculptures made of sandstone in the rood screen and the side choir screens represent scenes from the life of Jesus, as do the stained glass windows (Passion and Resurrection). They date back from the beginning of the 15th century. The three stained glass windows with the Christian scenes on the north side of the nave were restored in 1895 at the Royal Institute for Glass Painting in Berlin, according to a corresponding inscription. Two windows with historicizing coats of arms were created at the beginning of the 20th century by Alexander and Otto Linnemann from Frankfurt/Main. The alabaster high grave of Bishop Johann von Wöpelitz is also striking.
The high altar, erected in 1700, is remarkable. Together with the pulpit from 1693, it is part of the baroque interior. The St. Anne’s Chapel was built into the south aisle in 1508 and the font was made in 1587. Two-storey chapels have been set up in the eastern end of the choir.
OPENING HOURS
April – October
Tuesday – Saturday
10.00 – 17.00
Sundays and holidays
12.00 – 17.00
November – March
Wednesday – Saturday
10.00 – 16.00
Sundays and holidays
12.00 – 16.00 Uhr
CONTACT
Evangelische St.-Marien-St.-Laurentius-Gemeinde Havelberg
Propsteiplatz 6
39539 Havelberg
Phone: +49 39387 791-04
E-Mail: gemeindebuero@havelberg-dom.de
Website: www.havelberg-dom.de
ENTRANCE FEES & GUIDED TOURS
On request and by appointment
Meeting Point at the entrance (Domladen/Paradiessaal)
Cathedral: 01522 7661989
Guide: Max Tietze Tel. 0171 7516041
Single entrance fee:
Guided Cathedral tour (1hour) 3,50€/per person
Guided Cathedral tour including 30min organ music (90min) 6,00€/per person
Guided Cathedral tour including 45min organ music (115min) 8,50€/per person
Guided Organ tours (90min) 5,00€/per person
Organ music (15min) 2,50€/per person
Organ music (30min) 4,00€/per person
Organ music (45min) 5,00€/per person
Group entrance fee:
Guided Cathedral tour (group max. 10 persons) Minimum Fee 35,00 €
Guided Cathedral tour with 15mins Organ music (group max. 10 persons) Minimum Fee 60,00 €
Guided Cathedral tour (11-30 persons) 3,50 € per person
Guided group tour (more 30 persons) on request
Organ music and tour
Tuesday – Sunday on request
ROUTE SUGGESTIONS
TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE
Romanesque Art Centre
Domplatz 1b
39104 Magdeburg
E-Mail: info@haus-der-romanik.de
Website: www.haus-der-romanik.de