Barby can be explored through two very different travel interests: a cycling tour of around 25 kilometers with two ferry crossings, and a historic center with striking buildings. When looking for a hotel in Barby, this distinction can help: you can make the cycling loop your main focus or give more attention to the churches, the castle and the town wall in the historic center.
Cycling across the Elbe and Saale
The 3-Ferry Tour starts in Barby, is around 25 kilometers long and returns to its starting point. The Elbe is crossed by cable ferry; the route then follows the Elbe Cycle Path through the Steckby-Lödderitzer Forst nature reserve and the Hasselbusch floodplain forest. Another ferry crossing takes you across the Saale, before the route returns to Barby along the Saale Cycle Path. This loop connects the two rivers with sections of two named cycle routes. The ferry crossings are a key part of choosing the route: ferry services and conditions may vary, so it is advisable to check these details before setting off.
Another cycling trip from Barby connects with the Elbe Cycle Path and follows it south toward Tochheim. The focus is different here: the route south along the Elbe Cycle Path takes center stage, while the 3-Ferry Tour is designed as a loop starting and ending in Barby. The Seepark Barby is also part of the local cycling and water tourism offer. Alongside the cycle routes described, Barby therefore also offers water tourism as a theme to consider when planning your trip.
Historic center and changing art exhibitions
The historic center includes the restored town hall, St. Mary's Church and St. John's Church, Barby Castle, and the town wall along the riverbank. The former fortification tower known as PrinzeĂźchen is another landmark. Today, it serves as a viewing and gallery tower for changing art exhibitions; the specific exhibition program may change. Thus, alongside the town hall, churches, castle and former fortifications, the town center also offers a chance to see changing exhibitions. If you do not want cycling to be your sole focus, you can include this historic side of Barby in your travel plans.
In the wider destination of the Salzlandkreis
A distinct archaeological highlight in the wider destination of the Salzlandkreis is the Pömmelte Ring Sanctuary. It is a reconstruction of a ritual site more than 4,000 years old. The 115-meter-wide complex consists of wooden palisade rings, pits and earthen ramparts; it can be viewed from a nine-meter-high observation platform. The Ring Sanctuary is freely accessible all year round, with exceptions for certain events. Free parking and accessible restrooms are also available. As some events involve exceptions to access, it is advisable to check dates before visiting.
Other cycling routes in the Salzlandkreis have their own distinct focuses. The 3-Rivers Cycle Route is a day trip of around 36 kilometers between Ilberstedt and Hohenerxleben, following the Bode, Saale and Wipper rivers. In the central Salzlandkreis, it takes in river landscapes with forests and meadows, as well as elevated farmland with wide-open views. The Bode Cycle Path crosses the Salzlandkreis over approximately 51 kilometers and passes through floodplain landscapes, historic towns and villages. A section of the Saale Cycle Path runs through the Salzlandkreis between Rothenburg in the Saalekreis and Barby; here, it takes in a quiet river landscape of woodland and meadows. These regional routes complement the shorter 3-Ferry Tour in Barby with other distances and landscapes across the Salzlandkreis.
Discover more destinations: Schönebeck, Egeln, Könnern, Welsleben, Baalberge, Hecklingen, Aschersleben, Seeland.
Back to the wider travel overview: Salzlandkreis.
