Magdeburger Reiter
The Magdeburger Reiter is a medieval equestrian statue made in a younger Magdeburg workshop. Craftspeople created the work in Magdeburg around 1240. It ranks among the earliest life-sized, freestanding equestrian sculptures in medieval Europe. Fine-grained sandstone forms the rider and two maidens. The rider sits upright, wears a crown and ornate clothing, and holds his left hand against the horse. His extended right hand makes a regal gesture. His sword, boots, saddle, stirrups, and folded travel cloak remain visible. The two maidens stand below him as members of the ruler’s entourage. Each maiden measures 1.45 metres in height. One holds a shield, while the other once carried a lost flag lance. Star-shaped and polygonal pins distinguish their clothing. Restoration revealed blue, green, red, and white colour beneath later gilding. The statue received gilding during the seventeenth century. The original is housed in the Kaiser-Otto-Saal at Kulturhistorisches Museum Magdeburg. A gilded copy stands on the Alten Markt. The copy’s setting connects the monument with civic freedom and imperial authority. The Magdeburger Reiter spot is wheelchair accessible.
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- Magdeburg
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Image: Rudolf HatzoldPublic domain 
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Image: Sigurd CurmanPublic domain 
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Image: Rudolf HatzoldPublic domain
Take this page with you
The myTuur app is free, and once you are standing at a spot its story starts by itself.
Spots like this one are the stops myTuur strings into tours through Magdeburg. In the app, each story begins where you stand: walk up to a spot and it starts, read it on screen or listen as you go, then follow the route to the next one.
What is myTuur?
myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.