Grüne Zitadelle

Central Germany


This piglet-pink building with trees growing from its facade and meadows sprouting on its rooftops was the final design of Viennese artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Completed in 2005, it reflects his philosophy of creating unique spaces in harmony with nature, an ‘oasis for humanity’. Inside are offices, flats and shops, as well as a small hotel and a cafe. If you understand German, join the one-hour guided tours to learn more about the man and his intriguing vision.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central Germany attractions

2. Dom

0.17 MILES

Magdeburg’s main historical landmark traces its roots to 937 when Otto I founded a Benedictine monastery and built it into a fully fledged cathedral…

3. Kulturhistorisches Mueum

0.2 MILES

This restored and enlarged museum boasts the original Magdeburger Reiter statue from 1240. A gilded copy is on Alter Markt.

4. Rathaus

0.39 MILES

After the original bronze door of the Rathaus (town hall) on Alter Markt was destroyed by WWII bombing, local artist Heinrich Apel designed the current…

5. Elbauenpark

1.72 MILES

The Elbauenpark was carved out of the landscape for a 1999 garden exhibition, and has rose, sculpture and other gardens along with a butterfly house. Its…

6. Wasserstrassenkreuz

7.72 MILES

You’ll rub your eyes in disbelief when you first see it: a massive, water-filled bridge straddling the Elbe River. The Wasserstrassenkreuz is Europe’s…

7. John Cage Orgel Kunst Projekt

29.68 MILES

The performance of American avant-garde composer and musical theorist John Cage's Organ²/ASLSP began in the shell of the former Kirche St Burchardi in…