Naumburg

Naumburg is a town in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, situated on the Saale river in the Saale-Unstrut wine region. It has a population of around 30,000 and serves as a regional center for history, culture, and services in the southern part of the state.

The town’s most prominent feature is Naumburg Cathedral, officially the High Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul. This Gothic church is noted for its sculpture workshop, the Naumburg Master, and a set of expressive donor figures, including Uta von Ballenstedt. In 2018, Naumburg Cathedral and the surrounding Saale-Unstrut wine landscape were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for the quality of medieval sculpture and the long-standing viticultural landscape.

Naumburg also preserves a historic town center with a market square and numerous timber-framed houses, reflecting its medieval mercantile heritage. The local economy combines wine production, tourism, and regional services, with the surrounding countryside known for vineyards dating to the Middle Ages.

Notable elements associated with the city include the artistic achievements of the Naumburg Master, whose work on the cathedral embodies a high point of late 12th and early 13th-century sculpture. The site attracts visitors interested in medieval art, architecture, and the cultural landscape of central Germany.