Harz Stories
Quedlinburg — where the centuries have a home
In Quedlinburg, a single glance is sometimes enough to embark on a little journey through time. Slate roofs lie over old half-timbered facades, narrow alleys lead to sunny squares, and the Castle Hill rises up behind the houses.
Here, history is not only found in museums. It is embedded in the cobblestones, the irregular wooden beams of old houses, and in the walls that have seen many generations come and go.
The illustration from the “Harz Stories” series captures this special atmosphere and condenses various impressions of Quedlinburg into a vibrant yet pleasantly calm portrait of the city.
QUEDLINBURG · HARZ
The Town Hall — a building full of history
At the center of the illustration is the historic town hall of Quedlinburg. Its stone facade, large slate roof, and striking staircase give the building an impressive presence.
At the same time, the lush greenery takes away any austerity. Ivy creeps over the walls, red blossoms add small accents of color to the windows, and the light sandstone gains a warm, almost summery radiance from the watercolors.
The town hall forms the calm center of the motif. All around it unfolds the intricate architecture for which Quedlinburg is so well known: half-timbering, narrow windows, steep roofs, and lovingly designed facades.
HALF-TIMBERING · HISTORY · HARZ “Some cities keep their history in books. Quedlinburg has written it into its houses.”
A view over the rooftops
Behind the alleys and half-timbered houses rises the Quedlinburg Castle Hill. The collegiate church with its striking towers forms a landmark visible from far above the city.
In the illustration, it appears above a green slope where trees, walls, and small houses combine. The gaze wanders from the lively square in the foreground up to the quieter silhouette of the Castle Hill.
This creates a cityscape with several levels: everyday life down in the alleys, the historic architecture above, and the greenery in between that connects the entire scene.
Half-timbering & Sandstone
Historic facades, irregular wooden beams, and warm natural tones give the illustration its unmistakable old-town character. Fine lines make the architecture appear detailed without taking away its lightness.
Greenery & Blossoms
Ivy, trees, and small floral arrangements accompany the architecture and give the scene an almost Mediterranean warmth. The lush green forms a natural counterpart to the stone, slate, and half-timbering.
A city stroll in watercolor
The illustration works with the interplay between precise drawing and loose, transparent watercolor areas. Windows, beams, and roof structures are finely crafted, while trees, flowers, and cobblestones appear softer and freer.
Especially the warm ochre, sandstone, and terracotta tones define the image's effect. Added to this are restrained slate gray, fresh green, and small red blossom accents.
The individual elements fade organically into the white at the edges of the image. Thus, despite its many architectural details, the motif remains light and open – like a memory of a sunny day in Quedlinburg.
Care & Handling
The ceramic mug is dishwasher and microwave safe. For the longest possible color brilliance of the motif, however, gentle cleaning is recommended. Severe temperature shocks and impacts should be avoided.
A little piece of Quedlinburg for your home
Perhaps you know the alleys from a holiday in the Harz. Perhaps you grew up here and associate very personal memories with the marketplace. Or perhaps you are just discovering Quedlinburg for yourself.
This illustration preserves a piece of that special old-town atmosphere in which history, architecture, and life between the old houses quite naturally belong together.
