Horse sculptures return to historic Magdeburg Horse Gate after restoration

Six horse sculptures have been reinstated atop the historic Magdeburg Horse Gate, located in the Rotehorn city park. The return follows a comprehensive reconstruction of the entire gate structure. Over its 99-year existence, water had infiltrated the gate's pillars, causing numerous cracks and significant damage. While restoration work on the arches is expected to continue until September 14, the first horse sculpture was removed for restoration in November 2024. City officials noted that the disassembly process had to be meticulous and careful due to the lack of original plans for the monument. The total cost for the historically accurate restoration amounted to approximately 1.5 million euros. Funding for the project came from various sources, including urban development subsidies, state heritage funding from the Saxony-Anhalt administrative office, and grants from the German Foundation for Monument Protection. The city contributed roughly 670,000 euros from its own budget to the restoration effort.