Havelberg is an island town situated on a glacial-age ridge between the Havel and Elbe rivers. The medieval old town lies below St. Mary’s Cathedral, while extensive river lowlands stretch out all around it. Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Havelberg can then continue their search for accommodation.
Nature
The Lower Havel Lowlands in Saxony-Anhalt are part of the UNESCO-recognized Flusslandschaft Elbe Biosphere Reserve. The floodplain in front of the Havel dike provides a habitat for floodplain species and serves as a resting area for geese, cranes, swans, waders, and ducks. The Lower Havel Landscape Protection Area encompasses the river landscapes of the Elbe and Havel.
The grounds of the House of Rivers include a water playground, a restored former channel of the Havel, and the historic Petroleum Island, which can be reached via a pedestrian bridge. A permanent exhibition at the House of Rivers presents the natural treasures of the Elbe and Havel as well as the ecological value of natural river dynamics. The approximately 9.3-kilometer circular Auenpfad Lug ins Land hiking trail also begins at the House of Rivers. It passes St. Mary’s Cathedral and Spülinsel and offers views across the river lowlands.
Culture
St. Mary’s Cathedral was consecrated as a Romanesque basilica in 1170, is located along the Romanesque Road, and houses one of the few completely preserved medieval monastery complexes in northern Germany. The historic interior furnishings of Havelberg Cathedral include stained-glass windows, a rood screen, Early Gothic choir stalls, Passion reliefs, the Paradise Hall, and a cloister; the Paradise Hall and cloister are suitable for concerts and other events.
The Prignitz Museum at the cathedral offers exhibitions, media stations, museum apps, guided tours, educational museum programs, lectures, and concerts. St. Lawrence is the oldest building on Havelberg’s old-town island and contains a Baroque Scholtze organ from 1754, an ornate sacristy cabinet, and an altar. The historic city tour in Havelberg is signposted with numbers; each object has an information panel with an object number and brief description.
Cycling
Havelberg is a hub for cycle routes, where the Elbe Cycle Route, Havel Cycle Route, and Altmark Circular Route intersect. The “Cycling by Numbers” system enables cyclists to plan individual routes using numbered junctions and information boards. The Havel Cycle Route runs for more than 370 kilometers along the Havel from Ankershagen to its mouth into the Elbe near Gnevsdorf, close to Havelberg.
Getting There
Travelers can reach Havelberg by train and connecting bus: from the south and west, the connection runs via Stendal and bus route 900; from the north and east, it runs via Glöwen and also uses bus route 900.
Further destinations: Sandau, Zehrental, Eichstedt, Altmärkische Wische, Birkholz, Bismark/Kläden, Klein Schwechten, Hassel
