Gröna citadellet i Magdeburg - lekfullt och grönt boende

The Green Citadel in Magdeburg is a residential building, but also a spectacular and amazing sight. This house is designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and offers playfulness, but also lovely greenery in the centre of the city.

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The Green Citadel in Magdeburg

The Green Citadel (Die Grüne Zitadelle) in Magdeburg may seem pink at first glance, which is true, but if you look into the courtyards or visit the roof, you'll immediately realise why the building is called 'green'. The vegetation is lush and the birds are thriving. Even though we are in the centre of the city, we hear the constant chirping of small birds.

The Green Citadel in Magdeburg is located at Breiter Weg 8-10A in the centre of Magdeburg, in the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.

A masterpiece by a master. Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Friedensreich Hundertwasser was a special man. He painted amazing paintings and created buildings like no other, but he also enjoyed travelling, learned several languages and sailed to New Zealand on his own.

Already as a young art student, he decided to change his surname 'Stowasser' to 'Hundertwasser'. The prefix 'sto' means 'hundred' in Czech, and the change made the meaning clearer - 'Hundravatten'.

Later, he also changed his first name from Friedrich (Frederick) to Friedensreich (Peace Kingdom). He also added some extra middle names, in true Pippi Longstocking spirit, so that his full name became Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser (roughly: Fredsreich Regndag Mörkfärggrann Hundravatten).

The straight line is ungodly and immoral.
Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Hundertwasser believed that the straight line is ungodly and immoral, so anything straight should be avoided. He also believed that building takes away from nature, and that you have to give back to nature, for example by planting trees and shrubs on roofs and balconies.

The Green Citadel in Magdeburg is Hundertwasser's last building. The original plan was to have Hundertwasser redesign the GDR-style building already on the site, but when the building was demolished, the designer was given free rein. He worked on the design until his death in 2000, and the building was completed in 2005.

Visiting the Green Citadel in Magdeburg

If you are in the neighbourhood of Magdeburg, we highly recommend a visit to the Green Citadel. A visit here is both interesting and inspiring in many ways. You can choose to look around on your own (outside and in the courtyards) or join a guided tour to see more.

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To begin with, it is fascinating to see the Green Citadel from the outside. There are 856 windows in about 300 different variations.

The colourful and decorated pillars are all unique. In fact, the whole house is full of individual details, and you see new things everywhere.

The Green Citadel is huge, and no two parts are the same. Be sure to walk around the building to see it from different angles. In one corner, for example, there is a car park, which of course is also beautifully pink and green.

Courtyards

To see a bit more of the house, you can walk into the two courtyards. Here you will find several shops and a few different eateries. You can also enjoy the greenery and check out the huge number of colourful birdhouses used as decoration.

If you take a coffee in one of the courtyards, you can look at all the colourful fountains, furniture and decorations at the same time.

Guided tour - up on the roof

The most interesting thing is to go on a guided tour. Then you get to see a little more of the interior of the building and - most interesting of all - go up to different parts of the roof. From the roof you have a fantastic view both of other parts of the building and of the city in general.

You can also experience the tranquillity and greenery up here. Despite being in the centre of the city, you feel like you're in nature, surrounded by bushes, flowers and birds chirping. If every building in the world could be built this way - with green roofs - what a much better place the world would be! It shouldn't be impossible, should it?

More Hundertwasser buildings in the world

Friedensreich Hundertwasser has designed many more buildings around the world. We took a look at some of these in pictures, and were really excited to see more. Here are some of the buildings we are curious to see:

Kuchlbauer Tower in Abensberg, Germany
Forest spiral (Forest spiral) in Darmstadt, Germany
Living under the Regency Tower (Stay under the Rain Tower) in Plochingen, Germany
Spittelau district heating plant in Vienna, Austria
Hundertwasser House in Vienna, Austria
Motorway restaurant Bad Fischau-Brunn in Bad Fischau, Austria
Altenrhein Market Hall in Thal, Switzerland
Quixote Winery in Napa Valley, USA
Maishima incinerator in Osaka, Japan
Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa, New Zealand

More to see and do in Magdeburg and Germany

There is of course more to see and do in Magdeburg. Some of the main attractions, besides the Green Citadel, are the cathedral, the Millennium Tower and the world's longest aqueduct, which is navigable by boat. If you are travelling by motorhome, you can stay at "Am Winterhafen" (with service) or "Petriförder" (without service). We will tell you more soon!

READ MORE: Things to do in Magdeburg - 12 tips for the Ottostadt in Germany

Have you visited the Green Citadel in Magdeburg?

Have you ever visited the Green Citadel in Magdeburg? Or perhaps you have visited another building designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser? Please tell us!

Facts about the Green Citadel in Magdeburg

Address: Breiter Weg 8-10A, Magdeburg
City: Magdeburg
Federal Republic of Germany: Saxony-Anhalt
Country: Germany
Designers: Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Designed by: Peter Pelikan and Heinz M. Springmann
Completion: 2005
The building contains: Apartments as well as shops, cafes and restaurants, culture, hotels and car parks.
Read more: You can find more information at the building's website.

Visiting the Green Citadel

On your own: On your own, you can view the building from the outside and visit the courtyards with shops and cafés.
General guided tour: General guided tours are organised daily, all year round. Price for adults is €7/person (2022).
Guided tours for groups: Tours for groups can also be booked. Please contact the Green Citadel.

READ MORE: What to do in Saxony-Anhalt - 9 wonderful experiences

13 Comments

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Veiken says:

What incredible creativity and imagination that man had. Such beautiful buildings.
I have been to Vienna and seen his creation there! You have to look carefully so you don't miss anything!
Thank you for this post from Magdeburg

21 May 2022 - 8:27

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Nice that you have seen the building in Vienna, it also seems fantastic! And glad you appreciated the report!
  
  21 May 2022 - 19:47
  
bmlarstravellingblog says:

We were only a few kilometres away from our first visit to a Hundertwasser creation when we travelled from Celle to Rostock a couple of weeks ago. We passed Uelzen and his station house there must be considered one of the finest in the world. There was no stop there this time, but Vienna is high on our wish list and then of course a visit to his creations.
The green citadel looks really cool!

21 May 2022 - 11:29

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Fun! We saw the station house! Now that we've seen one of his works, we want to see more! Vienna is high on our wish list too.
  
  21 May 2022 - 19:49
  
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Became very fond of the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna when I was there but this house is almost even cooler. I hope to be in the neighbourhood sometime so I can plan a visit there.

21 May 2022 - 11:57

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you saw the house in Vienna! The house in Magdeburg is amazing, really worth seeing!
  
  21 May 2022 - 19:50
  
Eva/Living like Eva says:

I did a whole Hundertwasser tour in October 2021: Uelzen, Magdeburg, Vienna and Darmstadt. Love his buildings!

21 May 2022 - 15:16

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Wow, so cool to do such a tour! Now, after seeing this one, we want to see more too! 🙂
  
  22 May 2022 - 16:39
  
Mia Stenmark-Hannus says:

Wow, this house would be awesome to see! The quirkiness makes me think of Gaudí's Casa Batlló in Barcelona. More houses should be built like that! 🙂

21 May 2022 - 19:11

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We also thought of Casa Batlló actually! Surely there should be more imagination! Above all, more houses should be green!!!
  
  22 May 2022 - 16:40
  
BP says:

Have never seen such an imaginative and ball house before. Thought the Gaudi buildings and "The twisted house in Sopot were imaginative, but this citadel is absolutely in Gaudi class. WOW I just say:-)

21 May 2022 - 19:19

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Gaudi's creations are also cool of course! This building was really fascinating! We didn't know about Hundertwasser before, but now we want to see more of his houses!
  
  22 May 2022 - 16:42
  
Lena - good for the soul says:

Damn what a cool house! You have to remember that if you ever get there! Exactly, it should not be impossible to build like that in more places.

Hug Lena

02 September 2022 - 12:57

Green Citadel in Magdeburg - playful and green living

The Green Citadel in Magdeburg

A masterpiece by a master. Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Visiting the Green Citadel in Magdeburg

Based on

Courtyards

Guided tour - up on the roof

More Hundertwasser buildings in the world

More to see and do in Magdeburg and Germany

Have you visited the Green Citadel in Magdeburg?

Facts about the Green Citadel in Magdeburg

Visiting the Green Citadel

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13 Comments

Veiken says:

Helena says:

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise Paulsson says:

Helena says:

Eva/Living like Eva says:

Helena says:

Mia Stenmark-Hannus says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

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