The German state of Saxony-Anhalt uniquely combines history, culture and nature. Here, you traverse a landscape full of medieval castles, impressive cathedrals and vineyards dating back to Roman times. This journey takes you along some of the most iconic highlights of Saxony-Anhalt.

From our base in Halle (Saale), we visited several other cities: Naumburg with its beautiful cathedral and the medieval Querfurt. We admired the mythical Nebra Sky Disc, discovered sturdy castles and found tranquillity in the serene monastery of Sankt Marien zur Pforte. Of course, we also enjoyed the local wine in the magnificent vineyards. We’d like to share these highlights of Saxony-Anhalt with you in this blog.

Personal highlights of Saxony-Anhalt

During our tour through this part of former East Germany, these were the highlights:

Halle (Saale): City of salt and culture

Halle, officially known as Halle (Saale), is Germany’s “Salt City”. The city has a rich history thanks to salt production, which has been central since the Middle Ages. It brought the city to prosperity and ensured wealth.

The Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen is the city’s eye-catcher. The church is a Gothic jewel with four iconic towers. The four towers tell a unique story: they originated because two medieval churches once stood here. In the 16th century, these churches were merged into one building, with the existing towers being preserved. This explains the unusual silhouette with two high towers on the west side and two smaller, interconnected towers on the east side. A fascinating piece of heritage! We don’t pass up the opportunity to climb the towers. After a strenuous climb, we reach the top. From the roof, we have a splendid view over the market square. The market is filled with stalls and people, as a festival is about to begin.

The most famous resident of Halle was the composer Georg Friedrich Händel. His birthplace, now set up as a museum about the composer, exudes grandeur. Händel developed into a brilliant Baroque composer at a young age with a gigantic output. He wrote 42 operas and 29 oratorios.

Halle offers even more in terms of music. We spend a few hours in the immense Beatles Museum. It’s one of the largest Beatles museums in the world. More than 2,500 exhibits bring the history of the Fab Four to life. From rare records and posters to clothing and instruments, it’s a true treasure trove.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for a few days in Halle (Saale). That’s why we will describe this yet undiscovered city in an extensive blog about Halle.

Naumburg and the cathedral

Our visit to the beautiful city of Naumburg begins nostalgically. We take a ride on Naumburg’s historic tram. This charming little tram has been running since 1892 and is one of the smallest city networks in Germany. The sound of the moving wheels and the wooden benches bring a touch of the past to life. A special experience to start our visit to Naumburg.

Naumburg is particularly known for its cathedral, the Dom of St Peter and Paul. This impressive Romanesque church is on the UNESCO World Heritage list for good reason. We wander for hours through the magnificent building. The Dom is especially famous for its sculptures of the founders, Uta and Ekkehard. Their images, carved in the 13th century, are among the most iconic works of medieval art.

Naumburg has picturesque squares, cobbled streets, special museums and nice shops. In an extensive blog about Naumburg, we delve deeper into this fascinating city and the cathedral, the absolute highlight of our visit to Naumburg.

Burg Querfurt: Medieval and unforgettable

Near the medieval town of Querfurt lies an impressive castle, namely Burg Querfurt. It is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Germany. This imposing fortress, situated on a hill, offers a fantastic view of the surroundings. The robust walls and towers tell stories of knights and battles from long-gone times.

The castle towers proudly above the landscape of Saxony-Anhalt. Built in the 10th century, it served for centuries as protection for noble families and later as a film set for historical dramas. The thick fortress walls, three mighty towers and a special dry moat breathe pure history. Highlights are the romantic castle chapel, the old armoury and the lookout tower, where we are rewarded with a panoramic view. A magical place!

The castle is often used as a film set for historical dramas. The FilmBurg museum, dedicated to the location’s film history, is a fascinating excursion for both film enthusiasts and history lovers. After discovering the castle, we take a walk through the old town centre of Querfurt. History is palpable in every corner of the city. We find the town hall on the market square and the late Gothic hall church from the 15th century to be the most beautiful historical buildings in the old town.

Nebra Sky Disc

One of the absolute highlights of Saxony-Anhalt is a mysterious find from prehistory: the Nebra Sky Disc. This bronze disc, decorated with golden images of the sun, moon and stars, is one of the oldest depictions of the cosmos in the world. The Arche Nebra visitor centre offers a fascinating insight into the meaning and history of this artefact, which is about 3,600 years old.

The centre is located a short distance from where the disc was found. A walk to the “Mittelberg” viewpoint gives us a sense of connection with the people who made this disc thousands of years ago. The mystery surrounding the sky disc and its exact function continues to captivate the imagination. We were so enthusiastic about our visit that we wrote an extensive blog about the Nebra Sky Disc.

Monastery of Sankt Marien zur Pforte

Near Naumburg, we visit the monastery of Sankt Marien zur Pforte. The monastery is one of the most beautiful remnants of medieval architecture in Saxony-Anhalt. Originally founded in the 12th century by the Cistercians, the complex still radiates the peace and simplicity that characterises this order. The Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles of the monastery church, combined with the impressive chapter house and serene cloister, make this a place of spiritual and architectural richness.

What makes this monastery unique, however, is that it still bustles with life today. Since the 16th century, Sankt Marien zur Pforte has housed the famous Landesschule Pforta, a prestigious secondary school for talented students. Two enthusiastic students who reside in the monastery guide us through the complex. They passionately tell us about daily life within these centuries-old walls. They also show us the most beautiful spots in the monastery. Sankt Marien zur Pforte is more than a monument; it’s a vibrant place where past and future seamlessly come together. A must-visit for lovers of history, architecture and inspiring stories!

Neuenburg Castle

Neuenburg Castle, located above the town of Freyburg, is an impressive example of medieval power and splendour. The history of the castle dates back to the 12th century and it served as a residence for noble families. For us, the highlight is the special double chapel in the castle. This chapel, dating from the early 12th century, is special because it consists of two separate chapels built on top of each other. This was a rare design in the Middle Ages. The chapels symbolised the connection between the earthly and heavenly worlds. The lower chapel had a function for the servants and soldiers. The interior of that chapel is sober and functional. Meanwhile, the upper chapel was for the noble inhabitants of the castle and their guests. That chapel is lavishly decorated with special art forms. This division of spaces was typical of the hierarchy of medieval society.

From the castle, we look out over the vineyards of Saale-Unstrut. For us, a visit to the castle is not complete without a look in the wine cellar. The cellar tells the story of centuries-old wine traditions in the Saale-Unstrut region. We also listen attentively to the incredible story of Elisabeth of Thuringia. She came to the castle several times as the wife of the Landgrave of Thuringia. She developed into a philanthropist who did much good work for the poor in the region. After her husband’s death, she devoted herself entirely to nursing the sick. She died at a young age. A few years later, the pope declared her a saint.

The vineyards at Neuenburg Castle

At the foot of Neuenburg Castle stretches the Herzoglicher Weinberg, a historic vineyard that forms the heart of the Saale-Unstrut wine region. The vineyard offers an enchanting backdrop of rolling hills, vines and a unique half-timbered house in an octagonal shape, with red beams and white walls. This characteristic building forms the centrepiece of the vineyard and is a popular spot for wine tastings.

Here we enjoy locally produced wines while looking out over the beautiful landscape. The combination of the vineyard’s rich history, the view of Neuenburg Castle and the excellent wines makes this an unforgettable experience. German wines are less well-known than French or Italian wines. But the wines we taste surprise us greatly. Unknown certainly does not mean unloved! With a benevolent sun and a tingling glass of white wine, we even feel like we’re in Mediterranean regions.

Other highlights in Saxony-Anhalt

During our trip, we couldn’t see all the highlights of Saxony-Anhalt. We simply lacked the time. Our focus was mainly on the southern part of the state. Therefore, still on our wish list are:

Romanesque Route

The Romanesque Route (Straße der Romanik) in Saxony-Anhalt is one of the most fascinating tourist routes in Germany. This route leads along over 80 beautiful buildings from the Romanesque period (10th-13th century). Think of churches, cathedrals, monasteries, castles and chapels that together form a time travel through the Middle Ages. The route begins and ends in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, with the impressive Magdeburg Cathedral as a highlight. There is a northern route and a southern route. The southern route runs along several highlights of Saxony-Anhalt that we describe in this blog.

Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg, an enchanting town in Saxony-Anhalt, feels like a fairy tale come to life. With its winding streets, more than 2,000 half-timbered houses and the majestic abbey church on the Schlossberg, it’s no wonder that this historical gem is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The town has a perfectly preserved medieval core with hidden courtyards, cosy squares and a rich history dating back to the 10th century. Quedlinburg offers a unique mix of charm, culture and architectural splendour!

Wittenberg, cradle of the reformation

Martin Luther has left many indelible traces in Saxony-Anhalt. Lutherstadt Wittenberg, for example, is the cradle of the Reformation. This UNESCO World Heritage site breathes the spirit of Martin Luther, who nailed his 95 theses to the Castle Church here in 1517 and unleashed the Reformation. The historic city centre with its impressive churches combines medieval charm with profound cultural significance. The Luther House is one of the largest Reformation museums in the world.

Saxony-Anhalt, worth discovering

Our journey along some highlights of Saxony-Anhalt offers a perfect mix of history, culture and nature. From the historic streets of Halle (Saale) to the mystique of the Nebra Sky Disc, and from the serene beauty of the monastery of Sankt Marien zu Pforte to the vineyards of Freyburg: each visit tells its own story. For us, the journey was actually too short. There is so much more to discover that we’d like to return to this area sometime.

Discover for yourself the hidden gems of this special region and let yourself be surprised by the versatility of Saxony-Anhalt. For a longer trip, you can combine these highlights with other attractions in the region. But the walking and cycling possibilities are also unlimited. For more inspiration, the website of Saxony-Anhalt is a good source.

We visited Saxony-Anhalt at the invitation of the German Tourist Board and the Saxony-Anhalt region. We have written the blog independently and objectively based on our own impressions.

You may also be interested in

• Naumburg, cathedral city full of medieval magic
• Sky Disc of Nebra: Astronomical highlight in Saxony-Anhalt
• City trip to the baroque city of Dresden
• ​City trip to the lovely student city of Münster
• City trip to the cultural city of Weimar