Naumburg Cathedral: UNESCO World Heritage site

The Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, the main landmark in the district capital of Naumburg in southern Saxony-Anhalt, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2018. The foundation stone was laid in 1029. The existing cathedral was rebuilt and extended in the 13th century, and remains a magnificent mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles.

The western rood screen shows what are among the most impressive stone figures of the High Middle Ages. It is one of the main works of the Naumburg master. The rood screen served as a "barrier" to separate the nave from the west choir. The reliefs show scenes from Christ's suffering up to the crucifixion.

The Naumburg Cathedral Treasure showcases relics in various rooms on the cathedral grounds that document the 1,000-year history of Naumburg Cathedral in all its diversity. Here you can see the Marian retable in a Gothic winged altar.

The western choir in particular is a masterpiece of Gothic sculpture. The anonymous Naumburg master created statues that were both lively and natural — which was yet unseen in the 13th century. They depict 12 representatives of the aristocracy who, with their generous donations, made it possible to build the cathedral. Among them is the margravine Uta.

When the writer Umberto Eco was asked with which women from European art he would most like to spend the evening, he answered, "Uta of Naumburg." The statue's elegance and aloof demeanor have made her famous. Some people consider her the Middle Ages' most beautiful woman — although Walt Disney chose her as the model for the wicked stepmother in his animated film "Snow White."

The cathedral isn't the only reason to visit the old town center of Naumburg, which is just half an hour's drive from Leipzig. The splendid town houses on the market square are visible reminders of the region's wealth centuries ago.

In the Middle Ages, several trading routes crossed at the confluence of the Saale and Unstrut rivers. To protect them, fortified castles were built. Appropriately, the district's name is Burgenlandkreis, which means "district of castles" in German. One of the loveliest, Rudelsburg Castle, on a ridge above the east bank of the Saale, is a popular day-trip destination.

There are about 30 castles and palaces in the Burgenlandkreis district. Many are a good 1,000 years old. At first they served as defensive fortresses. Later they were converted to palaces. Goseck Castle, for instance, was the seat of the counts palatine, then a Benedictine monastery, and later, in the 17th century, refurbished as a palace.

During the High Middle Ages, from the 11th to the 13th century, there were some 50 monasteries on the Saale and Unstrut. Monks contributed decisively to the prosperity of the region. In 1137 the Cistercian order founded Pforta Abbey. Their technical achievements include its water supply with channels and watermills.

To this day, Pforta Abbey also remains a secondary school with a rich tradition. Among its pupils was the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Its library was founded in 1570 and, with some 80,000 books, it is now one of the largest and most venerable school libraries in Germany.

It was also monks who laid out the first terraces and planted grape vines. Nowadays the wine-growing region on the Saale and Unstrut is the northernmost in Germany. Its output is small but excellent. And when the sun is shining, it's easy to see why the region is also called the "Tuscany of the North."