Brandenburg an der Havel

The Havel splits into channels here, and the town developed as three separate settlements on and around islands, the Old Town, the New Town and the cathedral island, which were only united administratively in 1715. The state of Brandenburg and later the whole Prussian and German story take their name from this place, not from Berlin. The cathedral, begun in 1165 on the island, is among the earliest brick buildings in the region and holds a Bohemian altar and a large collection of medieval textiles. Water dominates the town, with boat traffic on the Havel and lakes on both sides.

What you actually see

• The cathedral island - a twelfth-century brick cathedral on its own island.
• The three settlements - old town, new town and cathedral quarter.
• The medieval textiles - a substantial collection in the cathedral museum.
• The waterways - Havel channels and lakes with boat traffic through the city.

When to go

May to September for boats and the waterside; the cathedral is open year-round and closes during services. The town is quiet outside summer.

Honest expectations

The town is spread out and needs a bicycle or transport between quarters. Much of the centre is postwar rebuilding. Boat trips are seasonal.

Nearby

Potsdam lies east; the Havel lakes surround the town.