St. Mary's cathedral, Havelberg

Havelberg cathedral is one of the Altmark’s outstanding art monuments; a Romanesque pier basilica with later Gothic additions.

The cathedral and former precincts complete with 12th to 15th century cloisters, chapter room, kitchen and dormitory, attest to more than 1000 years of turbulent history in the region. Nothing has survived of the first Ottonian cathedral. The second cathedral building (1150-1170), however, can still be seen today.

Havelberg cathedral still has much of its rich mediaeval ornamentation. One of its earliest works is the triumphal cross group, which dates from about 1270-1280. Parts of the choir stalls and three sandstone candlesticks are only slightly later. The church’s most precious adornment is the rood screen, richly decorated with figures, which dates from the late 14th/early 15th century and depicts a detailed account of the Passion cycle. Some of the mediaeval glasswork has also survived. The history of the diocese of Havelberg and its cathedral can be traced back to the 13th century by virtue of the many tombs.