Magdeburg lies on the river Elbe and is the capital of Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony Anhalt), which was first established as one of the new East German federal states in 1990.

Magdeburg, one of Europe’s most important medieval cities, celebrated its 1200-year anniversary in 2005.

Otto I, considered the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, lived during most of his reign in Magdeburg and was buried in the cathedral.

In 1972, the city of Magdeburg made Angela Davis an Honorary Citizen. She was an American educator, philosopher and radical activist and was associated with the Black Panther movement.

1. FC Magdeburg is the only East German soccer team to have won a European club soccer competition and SC Magdeburg Gladiators are one of the most successful European handball teams. 

Tokio Hotel is a German band founded in Magdeburg in 2001 by singer Bill Kaulitz, guitarist Tom Kaulitz, drummer Gustav Schäfer and bassist Georg Listing. The quartet have scored four number one singles and have released two number one albums in their native country, selling nearly 5 million CDs and DVDs there.