Top 20 Castles in Altmark

The castle tower in the Salzwedel castle garden is the oldest preserved building in the city. It is considered the historical heart and architectural landmark of the Hanseatic city. The round brick tower was built at the end of the 12th century (probably around 1160). It served as the central defensive tower (keep) of a once powerful, ring-shaped lowland castle. This castle complex had an overall diameter of about 220 meters and protected the important trade route (Salzstraße) at the crossing of the river Jeetze. The tower today has a striking height of around 24 meters. Originally, it was even higher and culminated in a steep roof spire. To withstand possible sieges, the foundation was built extremely solidly. The wall thickness at the base of the tower is an impressive 3.60 meters. Typical for medieval defensive towers, the original entrance is not at ground level, but is a so-called high entrance at a height of about 12 meters. Inside, in the lower, windowless area, lies the former dungeon. The tower is freely accessible in the park-like castle garden and is surrounded by old trees and the remains of the historic castle wall. While the garden area can be visited free of charge daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, the interior of the tower is usually only open for special city events or as part of guided tours booked through the Salzwedel Tourist Information.

The Burggarten in Salzwedel is a quiet city park in the center, located on the grounds of the historic Salzwedel Castle. • Address: Burgstraße 42, 29410 Salzwedel • Opening hours: Daily from morning until evening (approx. 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM) • Admission: The park is freely accessible. • Atmosphere: Very quiet, green, and characterized by historical flair. Visitors appreciate the place for strolling and lingering. • The Keep (Castle Tower): The well-preserved defensive tower dates from the late 12th century. It is about 24 meters high with impressive wall thickness at the base. The high entrance is at a height of around 12 meters. • Memorial Hall (Hall of Honor): In 1923, a hall of honor was erected for the fallen of World War I. • Remains of St. Anne's Chapel: Remains of the old castle chapel's walls can still be seen on the grounds. • Remains of the defensive wall and castle moat: Evidence of the former ring-shaped lowland castle, which was likely built in the 9th century to protect a trade route on the Jeetze river. • Directly from the Burggarten, stairs lead down to the courtyard of the well-known Baumkuchen bakery Café Kruse, where the famous Salzwedel Baumkuchen can be enjoyed. • In summer, the park occasionally serves as a venue for open-air festivals.

In the heart of the Altmark, Letzlingen hunting lodge rises amidst an almost fairytale-like natural setting. No wonder so many couples in love say "I do" in this ambiance today! The first wedding took place here as early as the 16th century. Elector Johann Georg of Brandenburg, who had the hunting seat built in this game-rich environment, exchanged vows with Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst at the castle. After the old "Hirschburg" had long been forgotten, the Prussian King Frederick William IV. revived the hunting residence and had it rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style. https://www.kulturstiftung-st.de/burgen-schloesser-dome/jagdschloss-letzlingen/

The Bismarck manor house in Briest near Tangerhütte is the oldest surviving ancestral seat of the von Bismarck family in the Altmark region. The von Bismarck family received the estate in 1345 as a fief. Christoph von Bismarck built the manor house in 1624 in the late Renaissance style. After the Second World War, the family was expropriated in 1945. In 1997, the family bought back parts of the estate and began renovation. The manor house is made of oak half-timbering with red brick infill. An octagonal stair tower connects the wings of the building. The historical ensemble includes an 18th-century brewery house, a manor chapel from 1599 and a large manor park. The park was designed in the 19th century according to plans by Christian Schaumburg. The main building is a private residence of the von Bismarck family. The brewery house is used today for celebrations and social events. The manor park is accessible to visitors. https://rittergut-briest.simdif.com/

The Neues Schloss is located in the southeastern part of the park. It is a massive three-story building with eleven bays and a converted mansard roof. It was built in 1909 based on an Italian model. Above the portal and the outdoor staircase, there is a small balcony, and to the right and left of the staircase, there are sphinx replicas. Above the portal, the coat of arms of the Wagenführ von Arnim family can be seen. https://www.tangerhuette.de/de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/154243,1138,de,1.html

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

If you have enough time, you can visit the castle as part of a guided tour.

Briest Manor was built in 1624 and rebuilt in 1839 after a fire. It is considered one of the last remaining aristocratic residences of its kind in Northern Germany.