Otto the Great: Climate change threatens his imperial grave in Magdeburg!

Otto the Great: Climate change threatens his imperial grave in Magdeburg!

Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland - Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt)-A masterpiece of history gets cracks! The impressive sarcophagus by Emperor Otto I is crumbling and the reason? Terrifying: climate change! The emperor, who was the first ruler of the Holy Roman Empire in the 10th century, is not only a legend, but also the heart of the Magdeburg Cathedral. But the monumental grave, which has been taking a central place in the choir room for centuries, is very endangered!

Warning experts from the Saxony-Anhalt Cultural Foundation: Temperature fluctuations and increasing humidity are troubled by the historical building. During regular controls, alarming damage to the protective outer shell of the imperial grave was found. "This limestone sarcophagus, covered with a marble slab, has already gone through countless repairs," explains Eike Henning Michl, the scientific director of the cultural foundation. But the current conditions require immediate conservative measures!

the imperial grave rusts!

iron clips and steel reinforcements are affected by progressive corrosion, which is very endangered by the stability of the tomb. "The rust leads to cracks in the limestone and in the marble deck plate. It is urgently needed to replace the brackets to avert further damage," announces Michl. From January 2025, the grave will be equipped and provided with a 7 x 8 meter privacy screen to protect the historical heritage. But don't worry, Emperor Otto I stays in his coffin, he doesn't leave the cathedral! Whether the grave must be accessible again after 180 years of opening time will only be shown during the repair, which should be completed by the end of 2025.