Stendal: Zoo, Church Art and History

Animals and shared experiences

At Stendal Zoo, you can observe more than 500 animals from 75 species at close range. For children, the petting enclosure is a special stop: they can feed and pet the goats, then enjoy the adventure playground. The zoo therefore offers more than a walk around to look at the animals; meeting the animals and playing are two distinct parts of the visit. If you are travelling with children, you can make this a focus of your stay planning.

Church art and the history of Stendal

In Stendal, it is worth exploring two distinct reminders of the city’s history. Uenglinger Tor is a surviving part of the former city fortifications and offers panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. St. Mary’s Church, meanwhile, preserves a gilded high altar dating from 1471. It is one of the most significant carvings of its time in northern Germany. Together, a building with a view and an important work of art represent different sides of a cultural stay.

The Altmark Theatre is also based in Stendal. As the state theatre for northern Saxony-Anhalt, it offers a varied cultural programme. If you would like to combine a trip with theatre and historic architecture, you can take these offerings into account when choosing where to stay. The monastery garden, which includes a show garden belonging to the Altmark Museum, is open to visitors all year round and adds a garden visit to the cultural attractions—one that is not limited to a particular season.

Tangermünde and Schönhausen: history in specific places

Tangermünde is described as a tourist attraction with a fascinating city skyline and a very well-preserved medieval town centre. Tangermünde Gate is considered the oldest city gate in northeastern Germany. Tangermünde Castle also tells of a notable episode: from 1373 to 1378, it served as an alternative residence to Prague’s Hradčany for Emperor Charles IV. This historical connection gives the visit a specific political and historical context.

In Schönhausen, St. Mary and Willebrord Church is the baptismal church of Otto von Bismarck. It is part of the Romanesque Road and features Baroque furnishings. An eight-metre-high altarpiece is a striking feature. The church also bears the “Open Church” and “Cyclists’ Church” signs; a church tour follows a route marked by a total of eleven QR codes. The Bismarck Museum in Schönhausen displays gifts received by Otto von Bismarck, personal items and historical images. Its offerings include public tours, group tours and events in the field of historical and political education.

Cycling through the district of Stendal

If you would like to explore the area on a longer cycling trip, you can follow the Altmark Cycle Route Circuit. The approximately 500-kilometre circuit passes through places in the district of Stendal including Stendal, Arneburg, Tangermünde, Klietz, Kamern, Havelberg, Werben (Elbe), Hohenberg-Krusemark and Osterburg (Altmark). Take the total distance into account when planning your trip; the places named also indicate which stops you might like to explore further. Choosing a holiday apartment therefore depends on which experiences and places you want to make the focus of your trip.

Discover more places

Other place names on this page: Wust-Fischbeck, Aland, Kamern, Altmärkische Höhe, Altmärkische Wische, Goldbeck, Wanzer, Birkholz, Storkau (Elbe), Klein Schwechten, Eichstedt, Rochau, Schönhausen / Elbe, Hansestadt Werben, Hansestadt Seehausen, Zehrental, Fischbeck, Hohenberg-Krusemark, Tangerhütte, Arneburg, Bismark/Kläden, Tangermünde, Stendal, Hassel, Osterburg, Havelberg, Klietz, Schollene and Sandau.

For the broader travel overview: Saxony-Anhalt.