History: Emperor Otto the Great Reburied in Magdeburg Cathedral

Emperor Otto the Great has been placed back in his tomb at Magdeburg Cathedral after restoration work addressed serious damage to the burial site.

His remains now lie in a titanium coffin designed by artist Silke Trekel. Following an ecumenical service and a ceremony, the coffin was lowered into the stone sarcophagus. A marble slab will later cover it again. Many members of the public joined invited guests and waited in line to pass by the coffin.

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We are completing your history and advancing our own.

Experts had warned that the damaged tomb’s stability was at risk. Scientists also examined the remains inside an extensively damaged wooden coffin. Their findings confirmed that the bones belonged to Otto I. Further archaeological, medical and scientific research involving international partners is expected to continue for several years.

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You thought and acted as a European.

Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer described Otto as a European who united peoples across a realm stretching from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Saxony-Anhalt Premier Sven Schulze called Otto’s legacy both a gift and a responsibility, saying the state would preserve it and make its cultural and tourism importance more visible.

Otto I ruled from 912 to 973 and is regarded as a central figure in European history. He elevated Magdeburg to an archbishopric in 968, helping the city experience economic and cultural growth.

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Otto’s legacy is a great gift and a responsibility for our state and our history.