House of Estates Merseburg
House of Estates Merseburg
Experience history in Merseburg.
The Merseburg Cathedral Quarter, situated above the Saale River, with the Estates House, Palace Garden, Cathedral and Palace, is an incomparable place with well over a thousand years of history.
The Ständehaus Merseburg reflects the sublime ambience of a former seat of government in the immediate vicinity of the world-famous Merseburg Spells as well as unique architectural testimonies from episcopal and ducal times. Galleries, diverse cultural events and festive weddings enliven the impressive overall ensemble throughout the year.
Today's Ständehaus Merseburg Congress and Cultural Center is firmly rooted in the city's democratic history.
After the victory over Napoleon, the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna in 1815 stipulated that the Kingdom of Prussia also received parts of northern Saxony. From these, the Prussian Province of Saxony was founded with the administrative districts of Erfurt, Magdeburg and Merseburg, and Merseburg was designated as the place of assembly. On October 2, 1825, the first Provincial Assembly took place in the Schlossgarten Salon.
In the next few years, the question of relocating the Provincial Diet and the Provincial Association was a constant bone of contention, especially between Halle and Merseburg. Ultimately, the XIII Provincial Diet approved the offer of the city of Merseburg to build a new Ständehaus on March 12, 1892, and the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone took place as early as September 7, 1892.
A representative building designed by Franz Heinrich Schwechten in a historicist style and projected by the architects Reinhold Knoch and Friedrich Kallmeyer from Halle was built, whose plenary hall was subsequently given a coffered ceiling and monumental paintings by Hugo Vogel. On April 24, 1895, the Provincial Committee met for the first time and continued to meet here until 1933.
After being transferred back to the reestablished state of Saxony-Anhalt in 1992 until it was handed over to the city of Merseburg in 1998, the building, which had previously been used as a "House of Culture," stood empty and visibly deteriorated. Since October 3, 2003, after extensive restoration, the Ständehaus has already made a name for itself throughout Germany as a congress and cultural venue.
Details
Germany
Merseburg
06217
Oberaltenburg 2