In Erxleben, a gate tower built after 1219, a castle church with artworks spanning four centuries, and a museum dedicated to the history of pharmacy come together. Those who want to combine culture with time outdoors can also visit the nearby Bartenslebener Forest. When planning a cycling tour, it is important to keep track of the Ferkeltaxen Cycle Route project’s status.
Castle Church, Tower and Building History
The St. Godehardt Castle Church was built between 1564 and 1580. Its artworks span four centuries and include a carved Baroque altar, an intricately designed pulpit and the preacher’s pew by Tobias Wilhelmi the Elder, the organ by Heinrich Herbst, and an epitaph for Joachim I von Alvensleben. The castle church also hosts concerts, services, readings, exhibitions and guided tours.
Hausmann Tower was built after 1219 as a stone gate tower with a drawbridge over the outer moat. It is the oldest surviving building in Erxleben Castle and is two-thirds Romanesque. Its architectural form and former function as a gate give the tower a distinctive place in the castle’s history.
Construction of Erxleben II Castle began in 1526 on the foundations of the New Kemenate, dating from 1430. In 1563, the Hinterschloss was added as a south wing in Renaissance style. The castle complex also includes the three-storey Vorderschloss, which was renovated by 1682. A brewery or malt house was built west of Erxleben II Castle by 1563 and was later converted into a residence. This sequence shows how the complex developed over several building phases. Erxleben II Castle is considered a monument of national significance; the German Foundation for Monument Protection has supported conservation work.
There is also a biographical link to the town’s history: Albert Niemann was born on 15 January 1831 at the Gasthaus zur Post in Erxleben.
Pharmacy History and Planning Your Visit
The Pharmacy Museum is dedicated to the history of pharmacy. Its collection ranges from the early 17th century to the GDR era and also includes objects from the Erxleben pharmacy. The museum complements the architectural history with another way of exploring the town’s past. As visiting arrangements may change, check the latest access information in advance.
Cycling Route Project and Nearby Woodland
A 2022 project description planned the Ferkeltaxen Cycle Route as a 28-kilometre scenic route along the disused Eilsleben–Haldensleben railway line; Erxleben is one of the participating municipalities. Erxleben/Uhrsleben railway station is a project hub, with connections to Erxleben and Uhrsleben. Check which sections have been completed before setting out on a cycling tour. The stated distance describes the planned project and does not guarantee that a continuous route is available.
The nearby Bartenslebener Forest is a good place for walks. Together with the Erxlebener Forest, it forms a continuous woodland area of more than ten square kilometres. The nature reserve is home to natural beech and oak-hornbeam forests, considered particularly attractive, and offers opportunities for extended walks. Large sinkholes formed there when gypsum dissolved underground. The forest is home to cranes and green sandpipers and is designated as the EU Habitats Directive site “Bartenslebener Forest in the Aller Hills.”
The Wider Region: Börde
In the wider travel destination of Börde, the district’s landscape extends from the fertile Börde in the south—Germany’s largest contiguous area of black soil—to the meadows and marshes of the Drömling in the north. The district’s central area is hilly and includes the Erxleben-Hörsingen ridge. This regional context offers a view of Börde’s varied landscapes, while the castle church, Hausmann Tower and museum are the highlights of Erxleben’s cultural heritage.
Discover more destinations: Eilsleben, Sommersdorf, Ausleben, Loitsche-Heinrichsberg, Kroppenstedt, SĂĽplingen, Wanzleben, Haldensleben.
Go to the regional travel overview: Börde.
