Magdeburg has a long history.
Did you here about the Magdeburg's Wedding (German: Magdeburger Hochzeit) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Magdeburg?
Unfortunately, Magdeburg has been in the headlines again for a few days because of the cowardly attack on the Christmas market. You were lucky to be there before this happened.
We really feel for the people there as we were at the Christmas market a week before that. Terrible events.