Green Citadel of Magdeburg

The Green Citadel of Magdeburg (Grüne Zitadelle) is the last building designed by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser: a pink apartment and shopping complex with golden domes, wavy window lines, and trees growing from its roofs and walls. Standing just north of Magdeburg Cathedral, it is one of the most photographed things to do in Magdeburg and a striking contrast to the city's medieval and postwar architecture.

The story

In 1995, Rolf Opitz, head of a local housing cooperative, had the idea of asking Hundertwasser to transform a Communist-era concrete apartment block on the Breiter Weg. The plan grew into a completely new building. Hundertwasser worked on the designs until shortly before his death in 2000, and architects Peter Pelikan and Heinz M. Springmann completed the project in 2005 at a cost of about €27 million. The name refers to the green, grass-covered roofs and to Magdeburg's history as a fortress city.

What to see

• The facade: no two windows are alike, and the pink walls are crowned with golden spheres.
• Two courtyards: the larger one has a fountain and colorful columns, surrounded by shops, cafés, and a restaurant. The original architectural model is on display in the information shop.
• "Tree tenants": trees grow on the roof and from the outer walls, cared for by the residents.
• The tower: 33 meters (108 feet) high and open only on guided tours, with views over the cathedral, the Elbe, and the city.

People live here, in more than 50 apartments, alongside a hotel, a theater, a kindergarten, and offices, so stay in the public areas.

Tours and tickets

As of October 2026, according to the official website:

• Standard tour (about 70 minutes, including the tower): daily year-round; from April to October several times a day, hourly from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends; €12.50 regular price.
• Exclusive "Green World" tour with the rooftop gardens (about 120 minutes): April to September, Friday to Sunday at 2:30 p.m.; €25.50.

Book online or at the info shop in the main courtyard, where tours start. The tours are listed in German; ask the info shop about other languages.

How to get there

The Green Citadel is at Breiter Weg 8–10 in central Magdeburg, about a 10-minute walk from Magdeburg Hauptbahnhof. Trains from Berlin take roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, so a day trip combining the citadel and the cathedral works well. The building's underground garage (entrance on Arthur-Ruppin-Strasse) charges €1 per hour or €12 per day.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, even if you only have half an hour: the courtyards and facade are free to explore. The guided tour is worth it for the tower view and a look inside a model apartment, which is reachable by elevator; the roof terraces are not wheelchair accessible.

Nearby

• Magdeburg Cathedral, Germany's first Gothic cathedral and burial place of Otto the Great, a few steps south.
• Monastery of Our Lady, a Romanesque monastery with an art museum.
• Cathedral Square, home of the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt.