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Tangermünde – Brick pride, Fachwerk charm and the idyll of the Elbe

Narrow streets and winding alleys, half-timbered houses and magnificent brick buildings - Tangermünde at the Elbe is one of the most idyllic places in the north of Saxony-Anhalt.

Tangermünde was first mentioned in a document in 1009 with its hilltop castle. At that time, the castle belonged to a border castle system along the river Elbe. From the beginning of the 14th century it was the centre of power of the Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg and from 1373 to 1378 the northernmost residence of the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia Charles IV, along with Nuremberg and the Hradčany of Prague. Under their protection, the city of Tangermünde developed from a merchant settlement to a bustling town. The goal of Emperor Charles IV was to expand trade relations with the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic city of Tangermünde experienced a true economic boom thanks to its location on the Elbe and on important trade routes. Evidence of the former wealth are still to be found in St. Stephen's Church, the late Gothic town hall with its distinctive display gable and the fortified city wall with its three city gates. Renovated Fachwerk houses from the 17th and 18th centuries with richly decorated portals and beautiful ornaments reflect the pride and love of the inhabitants for their city.

Tangermünde is not only a gem for all visitors interested in culture, but also for visitors interested in art. Three museums with changing exhibitions as well as numerous concerts and cultural offerings in St. Stephen’s church with its monumental organ by Hans Scherer the Younger (1624), but also in the Salzkirche offer a varied program.

The great city fire of 1617 devastated large parts of the old town of Tangermünde, including severe damage to St. Stephen's Church. The town was rebuilt shortly before the ravages of the 30-Years-War wreaked havoc in the Altmark. This event changed the fate of the region for centuries to come and led to a conservation of Tangermünde’s old town in its highly original state dating back to the early 17th century.

This unique situation makes Tangermünde a favourite destination among tourists, a visual and - thanks to the Scherer organ - aural time capsule from a period in which Rembrandt, Scheidemann and Schütz lived and worked. Be our guest and embark on a trip back in history in Tangermünde!