The Monastery of Our Lady is Magdeburg's second major medieval monument — a Romanesque complex founded in the 11th century, about two centuries before the current cathedral. Unlike the cathedral, which remained an active church, the monastery was secularized in the 16th century and has been used for various cultural purposes ever since. Today it serves as a museum of sculpture and a concert hall.
The Romanesque cloister garden is one of the most peaceful spots in Magdeburg — a sheltered quadrangle with carved stone columns and a garden, essentially unchanged since the 11th century in its basic proportions. The church interior hosts regular classical concerts; the acoustics in the bare stone space are excellent.
The museum collection includes medieval and modern sculpture, with particular strength in German Expressionist work from the early 20th century. The building also contains exhibits on Magdeburg's history and reconstruction after the wartime bombing. Admission is modest.