Abbaye Saint-Maurice de Magdebourg

Saint-Maurice Abbey was a large monastery complex with buildings arranged around a central courtyard, portions of which remain visible within the cathedral today. The southern wing contains structures from the 12th century, representing the oldest surviving elements of the complex.

Emperor Otto I founded the monastery in 937 as a burial place for the royal family. The monks from Trier relocated in 963 and established a new monastery elsewhere.

The monastery served as a center for monastic life where Benedictine monks engaged in prayer and manuscript production. The spaces were organized according to monastic rules, with separate areas dedicated to worship, study, and daily work.

The remains of the monastery lie beneath the cathedral and have been partially revealed through archaeological work. Visiting the cathedral with its displays about the excavated foundations provides the best way to understand this history.

The monastery housed the tomb of Edith of England, Otto I's first wife, marked by a 16th-century cenotaph still visible in the cathedral today. This royal burial demonstrates the site's importance as a royal memorial from the empire's earliest period.

Location: Magdeburg

Inception: 937

GPS coordinates: 52.12470,11.63450

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:09