Brandenburg an der Havel – an interesting town with many faces

Brandenburg an der Havel is the town that gave the State of Brandenburg its name. In any case, it is worth planning a trip to discover it. The special role the „Cradle in the Mark" (Brandenburg) played in the development of the region is undeniable. During the last centuries, many important impulses resulting in economic and social change proceeded from Brandenburg-an-der-Havel. The Brandenburg Code of Municipal Rights was applied to a multitude of places in the March of Brandenburg and also to Berlin, which not many people know. The Supreme Court of Justice, the so-called „Schöppenstuhl" was situated in Brandenburg since the Middle Ages: a tradition, which is now continued with the establishment of the seat of the Supreme Court of the Federal State of Brandenburg. Lehmann`s mechanic toys, „Brennabor-cars", „Arado-aircrafts" and the legendary light lorry „Opel Blitz" are only some examples for the interesting industrial past of the oldest town in the March of Brandenburg.

For more information please contact Touristinformation from Brandenburg or visit the Stadtmarketing

links:
www.stadt-brandenburg.de
www.stg-brandenburg.de

Opening hours:

Summer period (01.05. - 30.09.)
Monday to Friday, 9.00 – 19.00 hrs
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 10.00 – 15.00 hrs

Winter period (01.10. - 30.04.)
Monday to Friday, 9.00 – 19.00 hrs.
Saturday, 10.00 – 14.00 hrs

Address: Steinstraße 66/67, D-14776 Brandenburg an der Havel
phone: +49 (0)3381 20 87 69
fax: +49 (0)3381 20 87 74
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

documents

bus time table
Map Brandenburg an der Havel
Map Travel

Getting here

Favourable traffic connection via road, rail and water

Connection to the federal motorway 2 Berlin-Hanover an a distance of about 8 km to Brandenburg city; north-south-connection over the near motorway-junctions Werder and Potsdam; local connection over the B 1 in east-west-direction and over the B 102 in north-south-direction;

Direct position at the main navigation line „Lower-Havel-Waterway", connection to the inner-german channel system; Improvement of the logistical conditions by a new, public harbour at the Silo-Channel;

The railway system of Brandenburg is a local railway junction. For example Berlin is attainable in approx. 35 minutes.

Brandenburg an der Havel

Brandenburg is the oldest town in the State of Brandenburg, and indeed lends the state its name; it is not only the many tourist attractions in the three historic residential centres Cathedral Island (Dominsel), Old Town (Altstadt) and New Town (Neustadt) that make it a popular destination for day trips and city breaks. The wealth of art and culture on offer and the numerous festivals and events that the citizens of Brandenburg celebrate every year with their visitors are enticing visitors to the town on the Havel in ever greater numbers. And it is of course the branches of the Havel, the many parks and the blending into the vast stretches of woodland and lakes that enable Brandenburg an der Havel to recommend itself as a worthwhile destination for excursions and an attractive place for holidays.

The location of Brandenburg Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, famous far beyond the town’s boundaries, is often referred to as the “cradle of the March of Brandenburg”. The foundation for the current cathedral was laid in 1165. The oldest document that mentions the name of Brandenburg, the document with which Otto I. founded the Diocese of Brandenburg in 948, can be seen in the Cathedral Museum along with many other valuable manuscripts and unique works of art.

Four towers and large parts of the town wall still remain from the mediaeval fortifications. In addition to the Plaue Gate Tower, Rathenow Gate Tower and Mill Gate Tower, the Stone Gate Tower is also worthy of mention, as it is the most striking and houses records of the mediaeval fortification and legal system on the various levels as an outpost of the museum. In addition to the town history exhibition, the actual Museum in the Frey House at 96 Ritterstraße also has a special exhibition of mechanical tin toys made by Brandenburg companies from the period from 1881 to 1992.

Apart from the cathedral, the other imposing religious buildings have contributed to the fame of the town of Brandenburg an der Havel. The oldest church is the St. Goddard’s Church; building work on this church is thought to have begun sometime between 1138 and 1150. The Romanesque St. Nicholas’ Church dates from the 12th century (built roughly between 1170 and 1230). The parish church of New Town is St. Katherine’s Church, built from around 1395, which is regarded as a main piece of north German Brick Gothic. Massive renovation work has been done on the St. Paul’s Dominican Monastery, destroyed during the war, over the last few years and it has been converted into the headquarters of the Brandenburg State Museum of Archaeology. The ruins of the St. Paul’s Monastery have been turned into an outstanding event location.

The Old Town Hall built between 1470 and 1480 stands on the Old Town Market (Altstädtischer Markt). One of the best known edifices in the town, it had stood unused for many years; it has now come back to life, however, following the completion of the renovation and conversion work. It houses the offices of the Mayor and various officials from the town administration as well as the magnificent Roland Room (Rolandsaal) and the “Ratskeller” restaurant. The 5.34 m tall Brandenburger Roland from 1474 stands on guard in front of the pointed arch entrance. This is one of the most important statues from the Middle Ages and stood in font of the New Town Hall until the Second World War; sadly this building was destroyed during the final days of the war. Next to the Old Town Hall, the Fouqué Library is based in the renovated former Syndikatshaus.

The Industrial Museum on the site of the former steel works and mill has become a popular destination for technology enthusiasts and as an unusual location for events. It is an absolute must for anyone interested in the history of steel production, as among other things it has the last Siemens-Martin furnace from western Europe, which has been preserved as a technical monument. The CulturCongressCentrum is used by Brandenburger Theater GmbH as a modern theatre for in-house productions and guest performances. The well-known Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra is based here.

The special natural features of the town’s location with the numerous branches of the Havel, canals and lakes offers the ideal setting for passenger shipping and private boat tourism. Boats of various sizes sit in the vicinity of the Millennium Bridge (Jahrtausendbrücke) during the summer months to take a break or take passengers out on a trip.

At the foot of the Marienberg is the “Marienbad” with a fun area, a 25 metre indoor pool and a 50-metre outdoor pool that can be used all year round thanks to mobile roofing. The nearby viewing tower, the renovated “Friedenswarte”, offers a wonderful all-round view of the “historic Electoral Seat and Capital of the March” during the summer months.

More information about these and other visitor attractions, planned festivals and interesting events in the town, and the current opening hours and visiting times of the various establishments can be obtained from Tourist Information. The employees will be able to offer extensive information material, help find accommodation, give advice on town walks and themed guided tours of the town or sell souvenirs and admission tickets.