An almost six-metre-high stone Roland statue, a late Romanesque basilica and marked trails on Schildberg give Belgern-Schildau different ways to shape a stay. In Belgern, the town hall and market square are at the heart of historic town culture; in Schildau, church art, Gneisenau history and the surrounding landscape come together. You can choose your plans based on whether you mainly want to explore buildings and local history or also set aside time for trails through mixed woodland.
Town Hall and Market Square in Belgern
Belgern’s Renaissance town hall dates from 1575 to 1578 and has retained its original architectural form. Beside the town hall stands an almost six-metre-high stone Roland statue, created in 1610. The figure is associated with judicial authority and market and minting rights. The town hall and Roland thus point to different historical dates and themes: the construction period of the Renaissance building and the significance attributed to the Roland.
Belgern’s historic market square is surrounded by old town houses. Opposite the town hall, beside the market square, stands a stone milestone commissioned by Augustus the Strong in 1730. Those who take in the buildings and square together will encounter several aspects of local history: representative town hall architecture, a Roland associated with legal and economic significance, and a historic route marker.
Church and Gneisenau History in Schildau
In Schildau, the tower of St Mary’s Church is older than the late Romanesque basilica, which was built around 1170. The church also houses a winged altarpiece from the 15th century. Its carved scenes depict the story of Jesus and the life of Mary. The tower, basilica and altarpiece offer different ways to explore the building’s architectural and artistic history, without reducing it to a single date of origin.
A Gneisenau monument was erected in Schildau’s market square in 1960, on the 200th birthday of Neidhardt von Gneisenau. Belgern-Schildau is home to Saxony’s only Gneisenau memorial site. The Schildbürger and Gneisenau Museum covers both August Neidhart von Gneisenau and stories about the pranks of the Schildbürger. For a culture-focused stay, visitors can choose from a dedicated memorial site and two distinct museum subjects.
Two Museums, Two Perspectives on Local History
Since 2004, the Belgern Town Museum has been housed in the Old Forge, one of the town’s oldest properties. Its focus is on the role of the Elbe in local history, as well as crafts, agriculture, brewing, winegrowing and markets. Its focus therefore differs from that of the Schildbürger and Gneisenau Museum: here, the river’s history and various aspects of local life take centre stage; there, the focus is on Gneisenau and the Schildbürger stories.
This distinction can help with planning if you want to include museums in your stay: the Belgern Town Museum brings together several local-history themes at a historic site, while the other museum focuses on a historical figure and the stories of the SchildbĂĽrger. The topics described can help guide your choice; plan specific visits around your schedule.
Schildberg, Hiking Trails and the Luther Trail
Schildberg reaches 215 metres above sea level. It lies in the north-west of the Dahlener Heide and shapes the landscape around Schildau. Marked trails through mixed woodland lead to Schildberg and are suitable for hiking, cycling and horse riding. Carriage rides to Schildberg are also available, including as an extension of a guided tour of the town. As availability may vary by provider and date, it is advisable to enquire about a ride in advance.
Several circular hiking trails in the Belgern-Schildau area explore the Dahlener Heide; no specific starting point for these routes is indicated. Another point of reference for hikers is the Luther Trail in Saxony: Schildau is stop 4. Check the route status and signage before travelling. Schildberg and the circular trails offer different ways to explore the landscape on foot, while the Luther Trail follows a long-distance route.
Getting to Schildau
Schildau is accessible by car via the B87 and B182. As road conditions and diversions can change, check your route before setting off. When choosing accommodation, you can also consider how much of your travel time you want to devote to historic sites and how much to the trails; the cultural and landscape highlights described here offer different points of focus.
Discover more destinations: Bad DĂĽben, Beilrode, Zschepplin, Zinna, Belgern, Delitzsch, Elsnig, Jesewitz
For the main travel overview: Northern Saxony.
