The best road cycling routes in Altmarkkreis Salzwedel

Salzwedel station is an important regional transport hub in the north of Saxony-Anhalt. It connects the historic Hanseatic city in the Altmark region with supra-regional centers and looks back on a rich history as part of the historic "Amerikalinie" (America Line). The station has four platforms and primarily serves regional and commuter traffic: RE20 (Magdeburg – Stendal – Uelzen): The most important lifeline of the station, which crosses the Altmark at regular intervals. Long-distance traffic (IC): Salzwedel is also connected to the Deutsche Bahn's Intercity network, providing direct connections towards Uelzen/Hamburg and Magdeburg. During line closures or major construction sites on the main Hamburg–Berlin axis, the route via Salzwedel is regularly used as an important diversion route for heavy long-distance and freight traffic. The striking station building was erected in 1870 by the Magdeburg-Halberstädter Eisenbahngesellschaft. The magnificent brick building in the imperial style testifies to the heyday of railway construction, when Salzwedel became a key station on the direct connection between Berlin and the North German ports (hence the name Amerikalinie). Directly opposite was once the Salzwedel Kleinbahnhof (later Salzwedel-Neustadt), from which the regional narrow-gauge railways started to the surrounding villages of the Altmark. After years of vacancy, the main building, which is a listed monument, is the focus of revitalization and renovation projects.

The original Lüchower Tor was a typical Gothic stepped gable building and was demolished in 1837/38 due to dilapidation. In its place, a new gate structure was built in 1840 with four sandstone pillars and double leaf gates made of oak wood. Until the completion of the structure, smugglers had free rein for years. This was a nuisance for the main customs office. It reported in 1838 that no adequate security was guaranteed against the nocturnal smuggling of taxable goods. The outer pillars with castle battlement-like crowns and the small passage gate fitted with masonry stones are remnants of the 1840 structure. The two inner pillars along with the gates were removed in 1892 to make way for increasing traffic. The Schäfergraben once flowed along behind the gate. https://entdecke-salzwedel.de/luechower-tor/

The Karlsturm is a mighty, round brick tower on a fieldstone base, built around 1370. It is the remnant of the former Altpervertoranlage and represented the strongest fortification of the city at that time. It was originally 150 meters long and consisted of an inner gate, a zwinger, and two outer gates on the Jeetze river diversion (city moat). The outer gate was demolished in 1812, the main gate fell victim to growing traffic in 1856, and the drawbridge had already been removed in 1653. The tower is about 27 meters high, has a wall thickness of approx. 1.90 meters, and a diameter of 8.80 meters. Originally, it consisted of four floors, divided by three cross vaults. Today, only the lower floor has been preserved. Its pointed roof collapsed around 1800 and was later restored. The Karlsturm is decorated with a pointed arch frieze and displays the coats of arms of the German Emperor, the seven Electorates, and the two cities of Salzwedel. In the central niche stands a stone sculpture, originally interpreted as Emperor Henry V, but later identified as Emperor Charles IV. The tower's name was therefore changed from Heinrichsturm to Karlsturm in 1833. Over time, the tower served as a warehouse for goods and ice, which brought about some structural changes. There were proposals to convert the tower into a water tower or a tower café, which, however, were not implemented. https://entdecke-salzwedel.de/karlsturm/

would probably have been destroyed in the Second World War

Very good ice cream parlor with delicious ice cream.

The inner city of Salzwedel, the historic Hanseatic city in the north of Saxony-Anhalt, is a real gem of North German Brick Gothic. As you stroll through the alleys, you will immediately feel the medieval flair.

Train station with ICE connection.

The moated castle was built in the 10th century as a Saxon border fortress against the Wends, presumably on the site of a Slavic hillfort in the Milde marshland. A nunnery founded under its protection, which the Obotrites destroyed in 983, existed here until 1121. The castle belonged to the four Altmark burgwarden (fortified districts), which administered the sovereign's judicial and military districts, along with Tangermünde Castle, Osterburg Castle, and Arneburg Castle. These protected the Frankish-colonized territory and the missionary monasteries between the Elbe and Milde rivers. Source: Wikipedia