The best road cycling routes around Bismark (Altmark)

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The Church of St. Nicholas, built today of fieldstone and limestone, dates back to the Romanesque period. The west transept tower, dating from the late 12th century, is the only remaining part of the original fieldstone structure. The tower is covered with a gable roof and crowned by a flèche. Around 1400, a chapel dedicated to Mary was added, which today forms the southern transept of the church, now built on a cruciform ground plan. An eastward extension was added between 1569 and 1573. A major reconstruction took place in 1754/55. The addition of the northern transept completed the cruciform shape. At the same time, the height of the south transept walls was brought into line with the nave. A two-story sacristy was built on the south side of the rectangular chancel. The church's openings were designed in the Baroque style. Source: Wikipedia

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

To the left of the Uenglinger Gate is the Gertraudenhospital, a small brick building with a chapel. It was founded around 1370 by Nicolaus von Bismarck and the Sweder brothers. Located outside the city, it served to care for poor travelers and pilgrims. In the Middle Ages, the Bismarck family was among the most respected and wealthiest patrician families in the city. For several generations, they provided the mayors and councilors. Otto von Bismarck, the first German Chancellor, also came from this old noble family from the Altmark region. There were seven hospitals in Stendal, of which only the Gertraudenhospital remains. https://www.world-qr.com/inhalte/new/qr-fuehrer/de/sachsen_anhalt/stendal/ortsfuehrer/stadtfuehrer_stendal/stendal_gertraudenhospital?lat=0&lng=0

Today, St. Nicholas Church, built of fieldstone and limestone, dates back to the Romanesque period. The western transept tower, dating back to the end of the 12th century, remains of the original fieldstone structure. The tower is covered with a gable roof and crowned by a ridge turret. See also: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.-Nicolai-Kirche_(Kalbe_(Milde))

The apse shows that it was formerly a chapel

Kalbe Castle is a historic moated castle first documented in 1196, but its origins likely date back to the 9th or 10th century. In 1324, it came into the possession of the von Alvensleben family, who expanded the complex into the largest castle in the Altmark region. After a devastating fire in 1584, the castle was rebuilt one last time. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was demolished in August 1632 by the residents of Kalbe and the surrounding villages on the orders of the Elector of Brandenburg. Today, only ruins remain of the once imposing complex, which is considered a prominent landmark of the town. The "Altes Wachhaus" castle and local history museum is located on the former castle grounds. It is housed in the town's oldest surviving building, dating from 1584, and offers insight into regional history.

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