The Altmark Circular Route runs for almost 500 kilometres through forests and meadows, passing numerous brick and fieldstone churches. In Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, it follows long stretches close to the “Green Belt Germany,” bringing together nature, history and culture. Cycling here is therefore also a way to discover different landscapes and explore cultural and historical themes.
On the Altmark Circular Route
The circular route comprises ten stages and a variety of surfaces: asphalt and concrete track slabs, as well as surfaced field and forest paths, sandy agricultural tracks and quiet roads. The overall distance and the number of stages offer two different points of reference for planning: one describes the route’s length, the other how it is divided. The changing surfaces are also a useful consideration when familiarising yourself with the route. The conditions are not the same throughout; the different types of paths listed offer varied experiences along the route.
Its proximity to the “Green Belt Germany” gives the cycling route in Altmarkkreis a special connection between nature and history. Along with the churches on the way, it makes for a route where landscape and culture are interwoven. If you are interested in a longer cycling trip, the Altmark Circular Route offers a clearly defined theme to start from: the connection between landscape, historic buildings and regional history.
Lake and nature in the Drömling
In Arendsee and the surrounding area, swimming, sailing, surfing, fishing and boat trips are among the tourist activities offered at the lake. Another special attraction is the “Queen Arendsee”: the paddle steamer houses the state of Saxony-Anhalt’s only floating registry office. If you are planning a boat trip, check the current sailing times beforehand. This will help you distinguish the lake’s water activities from a possible sightseeing cruise and plan around the experiences you want to enjoy.
The Drömling also puts nature observation centre stage. Within Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve includes areas belonging to the unified municipalities of the town of Klötze and the Hanseatic City of Gardelegen. The Drömling has cycling and hiking trails, observation towers, information centres and guided nature-watching tours. Endangered species for which the area provides habitat and a stopover include the white stork, crane, white-tailed eagle, black stork, otter, beaver and European tree frog. The range therefore extends from bird species to mammals and amphibians. If you are considering a guided tour, it is worth checking the current programme; for precise planning, you should also consult the official maps showing the boundaries of the protected areas.
Townscapes and architecture
In Salzwedel, medieval architecture, half-timbered houses, cobbled lanes and magnificent brick churches shape the town centre. A walk along the 1,850-metre-long town wall reveals parts of the medieval castle complex, as well as gates and towers. The town’s streets and buildings thus sit alongside a tangible reminder of its former fortifications. The town wall offers its own perspective on Salzwedel’s history, while the lanes and buildings define the character of the town centre.
You will also find brick architecture in Arendsee: the monastery church is considered the oldest fully vaulted brick building in northeastern Germany. Together with Salzwedel’s brick churches, it shows the material in two distinct urban and ecclesiastical contexts. Another perspective on the Altmark’s early history is offered by the “Western Altmark Megalithic Route,” which is part of the European “Megalithic Routes” cultural route. Of the more than 200 megalithic tombs that once stood in the Altmark, 40 remain in Altmarkkreis Salzwedel and eight in Stendal district.
Take part, discover and remember
At the Langobard Workshop in Zethlingen, visitors can experience everyday life among the Lombards and take part in hands-on activities such as baking, making pottery, and using a bow and arrow. Here, history is explored not only through buildings or historic sites, but also through activities that visitors can participate in themselves.
The “Fairy Tale Park and Fragrance Garden” in Salzwedel offers a different focus. Its themed gardens include the Elven Realm; there are also fairy-tale displays and figures, as well as spaces for events. Salzwedel thus brings together both urban history and designed garden themes. Which appeals to you most depends on whether you want to focus your visit on historic urban spaces or on garden and fairy-tale themes.
Near the destination, not far from the Hanseatic City of Gardelegen, the Feldscheune Isenschnibbe Memorial commemorates 1,016 concentration camp prisoners from many European countries who were murdered in a barn there on 13 April 1945. The site includes a memorial cemetery where the victims of the massacre are buried. The documentation and visitor centre has a permanent exhibition that opened in 2020. This place adds the opportunity to reflect on a specific historical crime and its remembrance to your travel experience.
Discover more destinations: Diesdorf, Dähre, Jübar, Arendsee, Kuhfelde, Klötze, Kalbe, Salzwedel, Gardelegen, Rohrberg, Beetzendorf, Apenburg-Winterfeld, Wallstawe.
Return to the regional travel overview: Saxony-Anhalt.
