Quedlinburg Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg castle hill

Flag	Coat of arms

Country

Elevation

123 m (404 ft)

Population

(2022-12-31)

• Total

23,313

CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)

06484, 06485

03946, 039485

HZ, HBS, QLB, WR

Website

www.quedlinburg.de

Collegiate Church, Castle, and Old Town of Quedlinburg
UNESCO World Heritage Site
South of the castle hill: Schlossmühle
Criteria	Cultural: iv
Inscription	1994 (18th Session)
Area	90 ha
Buffer zone	270 ha

Quedlinburg is a historic city in Germany. It is located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. About 22,795 people lived here in 2005. The city covers an area of around 78 km² (30.1 sq mi). Quedlinburg is found 8 kilometers north of the Harz mountains. A small river called Bode flows through the city. In 1994, UNESCO added the old town of Quedlinburg to the list of World Heritage Sites. This means it is a very special place that should be protected.

History of Quedlinburg
Geography and Climate of Quedlinburg
- Location and Landscape
- Weather Patterns
Sister Cities of Quedlinburg
Images for kids
See also

History of Quedlinburg

Early Beginnings and Royal Connections

The name Quedlinburg was first written down in the year 922. This was in a paper from King Henry I the Fowler of Germany. In the early 900s, horse riders from Hungary often attacked places in central Europe. King Henry built a castle in Quedlinburg. This castle gave farmers nearby a safe place to hide.

In 936, King Henry died. He was buried on the castle hill in Quedlinburg. His wife, Queen Matilda, and his son, King Otto I, started a special convent for ladies. A convent is a community where women live together, often for religious reasons. One main job of this convent was to remember King Henry I. It also helped educate young ladies. This education gave them better chances to get married. The convent on the hill closed down in 1803. The first leader, or abbess, of the ladies' convent was Matilda. She was the daughter of King Otto I and the granddaughter of Queen Matilda.

Growth of the Town

In 994, King Otto III started the old town. This was in the valley north of the castle hill. His aunt, Abbess Matilda, asked him to do this. This old town became a busy place for merchants. They bought and sold textiles, which are fabrics and clothes. Because of this trade, the town grew much larger.

Around the middle of the 12th century, the abbess of the ladies' convent created a new town. In 1330, both the old and new towns joined together. They became stronger and tried to become fully independent from the abbess. But in 1477, the abbess's brothers sent soldiers. These soldiers took control of both towns. All the citizens were once again under the abbess's rule.

Religious Changes and Peace

In 1541, the Protestant Reformation reached Quedlinburg. This was a big change in Christian beliefs. The convent and the town both changed to the Protestant religion. This was a peaceful change for Quedlinburg.

During the Thirty Years' War, many towns in Europe were destroyed. But Quedlinburg was lucky. The abbess was very good at talking to people. She made special agreements with all the armies that passed by. Because of her efforts, the town was not destroyed during the war.

Geography and Climate of Quedlinburg

Location and Landscape

Quedlinburg is located about 8 kilometers north of the Harz mountains. The city sits around 123 meters above sea level. The nearby mountains reach about 180 meters above sea level. Most of the town is on the western side of the Bode River. The total area of the town is about 78.15 square kilometers.

Weather Patterns

The average temperature in Quedlinburg for the whole year is 8.8 degrees Celsius. January and February are the coldest months. Their average temperatures are 0.1 degrees Celsius and 0.4 degrees Celsius. July and August are the warmest months. Their average temperatures are 17.8 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit) and 17.2 degrees Celsius.

The city gets about 438 millimeters of rain each year. Most of this rain falls between May and September. Quedlinburg has some of the lowest rainfall in Germany. The average annual rainfall for Germany is around 800 millimeters.

Sister Cities of Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg has partnerships with five other cities. These are called "sister cities" or "twin towns." This means they work together and share culture. Each of the five areas within Quedlinburg also has its own sister cities.