Discover Halberstadt through several distinct cultural themes: Gothic architecture and ecclesiastical treasures, Jewish history, and 18th-century literature. This variety can help you choose a focus for a cultural trip: architecture and collections lead to the cathedral, Jewish history to the Berend Lehmann Museum and a themed tour, and literary history to the Gleimhaus.
Cathedral and Cathedral Treasury
Halberstadt’s Cathedral of St. Stephen and St. Sixtus was built between 1236 and 1486, based on French cathedrals, and is considered one of Germany’s most significant Gothic cathedrals. The construction period and its models provide two specific points of reference for understanding its Gothic architecture. The cathedral treasury offers a different perspective: it contains more than 300 valuable exhibits, including goldsmiths’ work, liturgical vestments, sculptures and textiles such as the Abraham Angel tapestry. The cathedral treasury is also considered one of the world’s most significant medieval ecclesiastical treasuries. At the cathedral, the building itself takes center stage; in the treasury, the focus is on individual works of art and cultural objects. Exploring both means moving between architecture and a collection within the same ecclesiastical heritage, rather than visiting two similar attractions.
Jewish History in Halberstadt
The Berend Lehmann Museum’s permanent exhibition, “Kosher, Klaus & Copper,” presents the history of Jews in Halberstadt. If you would like to explore this history not only as an exhibition topic but also through specific locations, consider the tour of Jewish history in Halberstadt. It starts at the Klaussynagogue in the former Jewish quarter, passes Peterstreppe, Domplatz and the Hascharat Zwi Jewish school, and ends with a visit to the art project “And the living shall take it to heart…” at the site of the destroyed Baroque synagogue, as well as to the Berend Lehmann Museum in the Mikwenhaus. The tour therefore differs from a visit to the exhibition alone: it follows a sequence of named locations in Halberstadt and includes the art project and the museum. Check booking and scheduling before your trip.
The Gleimhaus and its Portrait Gallery
The Gleimhaus in Halberstadt is one of Germany’s oldest poets’ museums. It was established in 1862 in the former home of Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim, next to Halberstadt Cathedral. The Gleimhaus houses Gleim’s so-called “Temple of Friendship” portrait gallery, featuring numerous writers and other notable figures of the 18th century. This gives the poets’ museum its own literary-historical focus alongside the cathedral’s architecture and the themes explored at the Berend Lehmann Museum.
Choose Your Cultural Focus
The offerings differ both in subject matter and in format. The cathedral represents Gothic architecture, while the cathedral treasury showcases a diverse collection; the Berend Lehmann Museum presents a permanent exhibition, while the tour connects several stops. The Gleimhaus, with its poets’ museum and portrait gallery, focuses on literary and biographical history. You can therefore decide first whether you would like to explore architecture, ecclesiastical art objects, Jewish history or the world of 18th-century poets.
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