Collegiate Church St. Servatii

The Collegiate Church of St. Servatii is the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage City Quedlinburg. Founded in the early 10th century by the first German King Henry I as a Palatinate Chapel, the church became his tomb in 936. At the instigation of his widow, Saint Mathilde, a high-ranking convent was built on this site, which was closely connected with the Ottonian and Salian ruling families and kept the liturgical memory of the royal tombs. Highly Romanesque architecture and medieval treasure art invite you to discover and bring the place of the first German kings and emperors to life. King Henry I and his wife, Saint Mathilde, laid the foundation stone for the development of the monastery, city and state. The Ottonian tradition of coming to Quedlinburg was also followed by later emperors. The world-famous treasure of the Collegiate Church is still an impressive testimony to this rich history.

The treasure of the Collegiate Church of St. Servatii in Quedlinburg is an outstandingly preserved ensemble of medieval treasure art. Its roots go back to the foundation of the women’s abbey under the Ottonians. Wealth grew steadily by imperial privileges and foundations. The highly venerated relics, their precious containers and, above all, the unique manuscripts were used primarily for the liturgy. In addition to sculptures and panel paintings, unique goldsmith works, fine ivory carvings and radiant works of oriental crystal cutting have been preserved. A special highlight is a knotted carpet from around 1200, the oldest preserved knotted carpet in Europe.