Tangermünde

Charles IV made Tangermünde a residence in the 1370s and rebuilt the castle, intending it as a northern counterpart to Prague; he died before the plan developed and the town stayed small, which is why its medieval fabric survives largely intact. The Neustädter Tor is a brick gate whose upper stages are worked in openwork tracery, thin brick screens that are among the most elaborate examples of the north German brick Gothic. Walls, towers and a town hall of about 1430 with a decorated gable complete the ensemble. A fire in 1617 destroyed much of the town and the timber-framed houses rebuilt after it fill the streets.

What you actually see

• The Neustädter Tor - a gate with openwork brick tracery screens.
• The town hall gable - a 1430 brick facade of blind arcading and pinnacles.
• The wall circuit - towers and gates enclosing the small old town.
• The 1617 rebuild - timber houses put up after the fire.

When to go

April to October; the town is small and quiet, walked in a couple of hours. Elbe cycle traffic passes through in summer. Museums keep limited hours.

Honest expectations

The town is very small with limited services. The castle is largely gone. Public transport is a branch line from Stendal.

Nearby

Stendal lies west; Magdeburg is south.