Happy TravellerThe Hanseatic City of Stendal is a picturesque town located in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is the capital of the Stendal District and the unofficial capital of the Altmark region. Stendal town centre is situated west of the Elbe valley, making it an ideal location for tourists who seek a tranquil getaway. The town is located some 125 km (78 mi) west of Berlin, around 170 km (110 mi) east of Hanover, and 55 km (34 mi) north of the state capital Magdeburg. Here are some of the top sights and activities to do in Stendal.
One of the most impressive historical buildings in Stendal is the Tangemünde Gate, a medieval city gate dating back to 1220, and the Uenglinger Gate built in the 15th century. St. Nicholas Church was built 1423-1467 and heavily damaged by bombs in 1945. Reconstruction was started in 1946, interrupted several times, and completed in 2013. The City Hall in the Market Place where a statue of Roland can be seen was built in the 14th century. St. Mary’s Church, with its two towers measuring 84 metres in height, was inaugurated in 1447, and its altar dates from 1471. St. Jakobi Church in the northern part of the historical centre was built 1311-1477. St. Petri Church, built at the end of the 13th century, is the oldest church in Stendal. Breite Straße, with many well-preserved medieval houses, is the main street of the old city centre.
The Winckelmann Museum is named after Johann Joachim Winckelmann, the founder of classical archaeology. Its holdings include biographical documents, works, designs and diagrams, as well as Greek sculptures or casts, along with other small artworks from antiquity. Since summer 2003, the museum has been the owner of the world’s biggest Trojan horse. With its size of 15.60 m high, 13 m long, 9.50 m wide, and its weight of 45 tons, it offers a beautiful view over Stendal. Exhibitions are held relating to archaeology and the history of art from the 18th and 19th centuries; there is also a modern art museum. The museum is the seat of the Winckelmann-Gesellschaft (the Winckelmann Society). In addition, the museum has exhibits relating to the history and cultural history of the city of Stendal and of the Altmark dating from the prehistoric period through the area’s early history right up to the present. There are exhibits pertaining to the Hanseatic League, Romanesque art, and local archaeological material.
The Fire Brigade Museum, showing the development of fire fighting and protection from the leather bucket to modern fire engines, is another must-visit location in Stendal. If you’re interested in theatre, you should definitely check out the Theatre of the Altmark, Stendal. It was founded in 1946 and has always had a particular involvement in youth and children’s theatre. Theatrical performances and dance events are staged, as well as concerts, conferences, and meetings.
If you’re a student or just looking to learn something new, the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences is an excellent choice. Founded in 1991, it has around 50 study programmes taught at three departments in Magdeburg and two departments in Stendal. There are approximately 130 professors with around 3,700 students in Magdeburg and 1,800 in Stendal.
Stendal is also part of the Altmark cycle path. Information and maps about this cycle path can be had for free from the tourist information office. The town is easily accessible via Stendal station, the most important interchange and rail hub in the north of Saxony-Anhalt. Located on the Berlin–Lehrte railway and the parallel Hanover–Berlin high-speed railway line, it is regularly served by Intercity and Intercity-Express (ICE) trains. Many ICE trains stop in Stendal. Berlin can be reached within 40 minutes and Hanover within 50 minutes. A direct connection to the German Autobahn network is planned with the extension of the BAB 14 from Magdeburg to Schwerin. The nearest inland harbour (River Elbe) is in Tangermünde about 15 km from Stendal.
Stendal town has a rich history and has always been an important cultural and economic center. It received city walls about 1300 and the citizens joined the Hanseatic League in 1358. There is a Latin school documented from 1338. Magnificent churches, the town hall, and the two remaining city gates are still proof of Stendal’s former wealth. The Stendal citizens turned Protestant in 1539, with the reformator Konrad Cordatus serving as superintendent. Stendal was hit by 10 air raids, and more than 300 civilians died when Röxe, a residential area in the southern part of the town, was devastated by bombs during World War II. Stendal was also the site of a Luftwaffe airfield in World War II, which had been the site of the first German Fallschirmjäger training school from 1936; the famous boxer Max Schmeling was trained as a paratrooper here in 1940/41.
Stendal also has a vibrant political scene. The Lord Mayor of Stendal is Klaus Schmotz, born in 1952. He was elected in 2001 with 74.9% of the votes and was re-elected in 2008 and 2015. Seats in the towns assembly (Stadtrat) as of the 2015 local elections were won by Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU): 14; The Left: 11; Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD): 8; Free Democratic Party (FDP): 1; Alliance 90/The Greens: 1; Alternative for Germany (AfD): 1; Pirate Party Germany: 1; Independent: 3.
Stendal has sister cities in Grenoble, France; Lemgo and Puławy, Germany; Svitavy, Czech Republic; and Yartsevo, Russia. Stendal is a hidden gem that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Come and experience the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine of this beautiful city in the heart of Germany.
