Naumburg

Heading further east coming from Weimar in the direction of Leipzig, we made a stop to get a glimpse of the impressive Naumburger Dom, one of the most important cultural monuments from the High Middle Ages. Its construction spanned a long period of time but largely took place in the first half of the 13th century. 

Naumburg Cathedral, 1924. Photo: Kurt Hielscher vs. the 7th of June 2025. Photo: Casper Molenaar.

Kurt Hielscher's photo was clearly shot from a higher standpoint so from a building. Unfortunately, I couldn't get access. Or maybe the building wasn't even there yet? Now, there was a small terrace with only one parasol packed with a group in front of the building which made it even harder for me. I used a chair to stand to get some height and this is the result. 

An earlier fortress was already founded around the year 1000 by the Margrave Ekkerhhard I of Meissen, the most powerful man on the eastern border of the Holy Roman Empire. In front of the cathedral, and partly on these photos, we can partly see the Ekkehard-Brunnen, but on this one in its entirety.

In 1028, Emperor Konrad II moved the bishop's seat from Zeitz to Naumburg, elevating the city's importance. Shortly after, construction of a smaller than the current cathedral began. It was consecrated in 1044, but a fire in 1532 caused significant damage. It was only partially repaired in the 19th century. Several renovations took place in the 20th century, including a major restoration between 1960 and 1968. Since 2018, the Naumburg Cathedral has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

On arrival, all paid parking-lots were full or too small but I managed to park somewhere nearby but with a maximum of only half an hour. With some approaching showers, it would have been ideal to visit the cathedral and the longer I wandered around the cathedral the more curious I became. The view on the cathedral is stunning from all sides like its immediate surroundings, so it is a pity that we had to leave due to the parking limitations and the rain.

Below: View on the surroundings of the cathedral with the Wenzelskirche in the middle.