The Arche Nebra visitor centre stands at the site where the Nebra Sky Disc was found. The planetarium presents the show “A Journey into the Universe of the Bronze Age”, produced especially for the visitor centre, twice an hour. For specific visit planning, it is worth checking the current programme. This is how a journey of discovery through Saxony-Anhalt begins: at a place where an archaeological find meets questions about the Bronze Age cosmos.
Experience Bauhaus and World Heritage Sites
Dessau, too, tells the story of a defining era: the “Experimental Bauhaus. The Collection” at the Bauhaus Museum Dessau comprises more than 1,000 exhibits and tells the story of the Bauhaus school in Dessau. Bauhaus Dessau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The visitor programme includes guided tours, workshops and discussions about design and society in the Bauhaus building, the Masters’ Houses and the Törten housing estate. Saxony-Anhalt has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it a particular draw for culture lovers.
Cycling routes of varying lengths
If you would like to explore the region by bike, you can compare routes of different lengths. In Saxony-Anhalt, the Elbe Cycle Route follows the Elbe for almost 350 kilometres, from Havelberg in the north to Lutherstadt Wittenberg in the south. The Saxony-Anhalt section of the Saale Cycle Route runs for around 180 kilometres between Saaleck and Barby. The Himmelsscheiben Cycle Route, linking Halle (Saale) and Arche Nebra, is considerably shorter at 71 kilometres. These figures can help you choose a route based on the distance you want to cover; they do not indicate how long the ride will take. If you are planning a section of the Saale Cycle Route in detail, take current route changes into account.
Another cycling route combines nature and culture: the Garden Realm Tour FĂĽrst Franz runs for 72 kilometres past parks and palaces. Its length is only slightly different from the 71-kilometre Himmelsscheiben Cycle Route, while the destinations offer a different focus.
Floodplains, forests and distinctive landscapes
The Harz National Park encompasses more than 240 square kilometres of protected natural areas. It provides a refuge for rare species such as the black stork, wildcat, lynx and Eurasian pygmy owl. More than 560 kilometres of hiking trails and ranger-led tours add to the nature experience. Those who want to focus on landscapes and wildlife will find both an extensive protected area and a far-reaching network of trails here.
Along the Elbe, the UNESCO Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve is characterised by a different landscape: it protects one of Central Europe’s last near-natural floodplain landscapes and extends for 300 kilometres along the river. Floodplain trails, cycling and canoeing offer different ways to explore the area. In the Drömling, ditches, wet meadows and wooded islands shape the landscape. The area is a stopover and breeding site for cranes, storks, white-tailed eagles and more than 400 threatened species. Observation towers, nature centres and guided tours make the Drömling accessible year-round; for a specific tour, it is worth checking the current offer.
Further south, gypsum karst shapes the landscape: the South Harz Karst Landscape Biosphere Reserve is one of Europe’s most significant gypsum karst landscapes. The Karst Hiking Trail runs through this area for more than 230 kilometres. In the Saale-Unstrut-Triasland Geo-Nature Park, vineyards, limestone cliffs and historic cultural landscapes come together. Hiking trails lead through open dry forests, across sunny slopes and past orchards. Saale-Unstrut is also Germany’s northernmost wine-growing region.
More reasons to visit
At Lake Goitzsche, you can swim, sail and cycle. The family-friendly, well-marked Heide-Biber Tour leads to beaver dams, birdsong and quiet forest paths. These specific differences can help you choose the focus of your trip—such as wildlife watching, cycling or cultural history.
Saxony-Anhalt is connected to Deutsche Bahn’s ICE network; Halle (Saale) and Magdeburg are rail hubs. Check the timetable for your travel dates. Discover more destinations: Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Burgenlandkreis, Börde, Harz, Jerichower Land, Mansfeld-Südharz, Saalekreis, Salzlandkreis, Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, Stendal, Wittenberg, Halle, Dessau-Roßlau and Magdeburg.
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