Film location

In the autumn of 2012, Oscar winner George Clooney travelled to Halberstadt with two location scouts from Babelsberg film studios to see the cathedral. He had selected this magnificent edifice for the opening scene of his film “The Monuments Men”. A second viewing was turned down without further ado as, it was said, “some places are so beautiful that you don’t need a second appointment to make a decision”.

Filming began on 17 May 2013. The day before, a papier mâché structure was built over the main altar of the cathedral, transforming it into a replica of the famous Ghent Altarpiece by the master of Netherlandish painting, Jan van Eyck. Hardly any other backdrops were required, as “it's a perfect Gothic cathedral, we don't need anything else!”

The film is based on a true story. During the Second World War, a special Allied unit tried to recover some of the greatest masterpieces of art from the hands of the Nazis and return them to their rightful owners. In addition to its leading man, the screenwriter, producer and director George Clooney, other roles were taken on by high-profile actors such as Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett. Among other places, “The Monuments Men” was filmed in 2013 in Merseburg, Osterwieck, Görlitz ... and, of course, Halberstadt Cathedral!

In the autumn of 2012, Oscar winner George Clooney travelled to Halberstadt with two location scouts from Babelsberg film studios to see the cathedral. He had selected this magnificent edifice for the opening scene of his film “The Monuments Men”. A second viewing was turned down without further ado as, it was said, “some places are so beautiful that you don’t need a second appointment to make a decision”.

Filming began on 17 May 2013. The day before, a papier mâché structure was built over the main altar of the cathedral, transforming it into a replica of the famous Ghent Altarpiece by the master of Netherlandish painting, Jan van Eyck. Hardly any other backdrops were required, as “it's a perfect Gothic cathedral, we don't need anything else!”

The film is based on a true story. During the Second World War, a special Allied unit tried to recover some of the greatest masterpieces of art from the hands of the Nazis and return them to their rightful owners. In addition to its leading man, the screenwriter, producer and director George Clooney, other roles were taken on by high-profile actors such as Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett. Among other places, “The Monuments Men” was filmed in 2013 in Merseburg, Osterwieck, Görlitz ... and, of course, Halberstadt Cathedral!

In the autumn of 2012, Oscar winner George Clooney travelled to Halberstadt with two location scouts from Babelsberg film studios to see the cathedral. He had selected this magnificent edifice for the opening scene of his film “The Monuments Men”. A second viewing was turned down without further ado as, it was said, “some places are so beautiful that you don’t need a second appointment to make a decision”.

Filming began on 17 May 2013. The day before, a papier mâché structure was built over the main altar of the cathedral, transforming it into a replica of the famous Ghent Altarpiece by the master of Netherlandish painting, Jan van Eyck. Hardly any other backdrops were required, as “it's a perfect Gothic cathedral, we don't need anything else!”

The film is based on a true story. During the Second World War, a special Allied unit tried to recover some of the greatest masterpieces of art from the hands of the Nazis and return them to their rightful owners. In addition to its leading man, the screenwriter, producer and director George Clooney, other roles were taken on by high-profile actors such as Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett. Among other places, “The Monuments Men” was filmed in 2013 in Merseburg, Osterwieck, Görlitz ... and, of course, Halberstadt Cathedral!