If you find yourself in Berlin and have free time, be sure to take a trip to Brandenburg an der Havel. This city is located very close to Berlin, but it is very different from the capital of Germany and other cities of the state of Brandenburg. It is the oldest city in the region. He stands on the Havel River
Brandenburg an der Havel (Brandenburg an der Havel), photo Arne Olejnik
If you are in Berlin and have free time, be sure to take a trip to Brandenburg an der Havel. This city is located very close to Berlin, but it is very different from the capital of Germany and other cities of the state of Brandenburg. It is the oldest city in the region. It stands on the Havel River, among the unique natural landscapes of Northern Germany.
The journey from the capital by train will take you less than an hour on the RE1 express train. The train passes through the whole of Berlin, so you can catch it both at the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and in other areas of the city.
From the station to the center of Brandenburg, where the main attractions are concentrated, there are signs. Take a card in the tourist office, which is located on the main square. However, in a compact cozy Brandenburg it is easy to navigate without a map.
A bit of history
King Otto I the Great established the Brandenburg Bishopric in 948. And Albrecht I the Bear was founded in 1170, the city of Brandenburg. Until 1486, it was the capital of the Margraine of Brandenburg, and from 1356, the Elector. From 1949 to 1990, the city was part of the GDR.
Modern Brandenburg, photo by Howard Pulling
Brandenburg an der Havel is now a large industrial city and transport hub. Here are developed electrical, food and taste and light industry, metallurgy and mechanical engineering.
The city's attractions
central square (Neustädtischer Markt) was not always the center of the city. This square, together with its entire architectural ensemble, was built after the war, so you will not see especially bright objects on it. However, the city of Brandenburg has many interesting objects, temples and monuments.
Church of St. Katerina (Katharinenkirche), photo bayernernst
Near the main square stands St. Catherine's Cathedral (Katharinenkirche). This is a true architectural masterpiece - an example of the North German Gothic style, built by Hinrich Brunsberg. Not many authentic buildings in the style of brick Gothic have been preserved, and this cathedral has reached us no longer in its original form. It was built at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries, survived more than one reconstruction until the XVIII century and was thoroughly restored in 1987-2004.
Katarinenkirche, photo by wolf
During the time after construction, changes were made to the architecture of the three-nave church. Some parts of the building were completed in later historical periods. The interior of the temple is rather modest in comparison with its external appearance. The most interesting elements of the decoration of the church are the decoration of the columns and the painting of the ceiling vaults.
From Katharinenkirche begins the main city street, along which there are cafes, shops. On this street you can reach the bridge over the Havel, after which the historic core of Brandenburg begins.
Slavic village (Förderverein Slawendorf), photo by Sulamith Sallmann
On the left side of the bridge stretches promenade. It resembles river embankments in other small cities - the same sunbeds, benches, walking tourists, the ubiquitous gulls. Along the river you can reach an interesting historical site - Slavic village (Förderverein Slawendorf), more. Once upon a time, the Slavs lived on the shore of Havel, their settlements stood. One of these settlements was recreated in detail by local historian enthusiasts.
Memorial to the victims of Nazi euthanasia (Gedenkstätte für die Opfer der Euthanasie)
Next to this ancient monument is another memorial - a more modern one. Memory Center dedicated to the innocent victims of the Third Reich - people who died from forced euthanasia carried out under the state "program T4" (Gedenkstätte für die Opfer der Euthanasie). In the struggle for the purity of the Aryan race, all its representatives, recognized as "inferior", were destroyed. In a special center of euthanasia, created in Brandenburg, tens of thousands of German residents were tortured in gas chambers. The dead were taken into account: reports were prepared with detailed descriptions of the "achievements" in the implementation of the Hitler program. These scary documents can be seen in the exposition of the Center.
Church of St. Nicholas (St.-Nikolaikirche)
Nearby stands Church of St. Nicholas(Sankt Nikolai), surrounded by a small park. This building dates back to the 12th century. Among the brick cult buildings in Germany, the Brandenburg Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas is one of the oldest.
Plauer Torturm, photo by steffen68
From the cathedral you can walk to Altstädtischer Markt. On the way, you will see the old watchtower Flower Cakeourm, preserved from the medieval city walls. This is a 14th century building. There are four such towers: Rathenovertorturm (Rathenower Torturm), Powertourm (Plauer Torturm), Mulentorturm (Neustädtische Mühlentorturm), Steintourturm (Steintorturm).
Town Hall and Roland Statue, photo by wolf
In a buiding town hall(Altstädtisches Rathaus und Roland), built in 1468, meets the city council. Before the town hall is installed statue of rolandtraditional for European cities. These statues were installed as a sign of the city gaining liberty, its liberation from church taxes. The personality of the most legendary Roland Brandenburg has nothing to do.
St. Gott's Cathedral (Gotthardtkirche), photo Judith
Signs from the Town Hall lead to Dominsel Island - Cathedral island. Meets along the way St. Gotthardt Cathedral (Gotthardtkirche), which dates back to the ancient Slavic settlements on Havel. In the XV century, the temple was rebuilt in the late Gothic style, in this form it has survived to our time.
Mülentorturm (Neustädtische Mühlentorturm), photo steffen68
On the way to Soborny Island, one cannot miss another medieval tower, the Mülentorturm (Neustädtische Mühlentorturm), built in 1411, 28 m high. At one time it served as the entrance to the city.
Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (Dom St. Peter und Paul), photo wolf
On the Cathedral Island itself is a large Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (Dom St. Peter und Paul), built as the late Romanesque three-nave basilica in the 13th century, and in the 15th century rebuilt in the Gothic style. In his crypt is a memorial commemorating clergy executed by the Nazis. Next to the massive Romanesque brick building, founded in 1165, another, small chapel of the 12th century is almost invisible Saint Petri (Kapelle Sankt Petri).
Chapel of St. Peter (Kapelle Sankt Petri)
After seeing the Cathedral, you can return to the city center. The way back lies through River port. Beautiful views of the city open from the port - this is an excellent platform for photographing.
Upon returning to the central square, it is worth paying attention to the objects that are not covered by the tourist map. If you have time and desire, you can inspect the ruins of the Franciscan templesurviving from a 13th-century monastery, Catholic Holy Trinity Cathedral XIX century Fritz Ballman Memorial Fountain on the main pedestrian street.
The Steintorbrueke bridge has memorial dedicated to Soviet soldiers-liberators(sowjetische Ehrenfriedhof auf der Halbinsel Wusterau). The fighting for the liberation of Brandenburg took place in April 1945. The burial of soldiers and officers of the Red Army is still revered in the city. The order at the memorial object is monitored by the Bundeswehr.
Brandenburg an der Havel Germany
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