Country holidays and brick gothic

Gently rolling hills, wide-spread meadows, extensive forests, Elbe meadows and idyllic villages – the Altmark offers great options for a country holiday.

1,500 kilometres of bicycle and hiking trails and the longest riding route network of Europe, with 1,600 kilometres of mapped riding routes cross the untouched nature and offer a unique bicycle, hiking or riding holiday.

For water-sports enthusiasts, the 554 hectare, glass-clear Arendsee and the Elbe are performed destinations as well. The rural character of the region is reflected in the "Altmark Farmers' Weeks" as well.

Learn all about the potato at the potato festival, enjoy tasty asparagus dishes during the asparagus festival or experience the bright times of the middle ages during the knights' festival. About 200 events will make you want to celebrate from May to October.

The Altmark has been fully characterised by the Hanseatic tradition in 2008. The Salzwedel with its old half-timbered houses will host the 28^th international Hanse Convention from 5 - 8 June and welcome participants from more than 15 Countries.

In addition to Salzwedel, seven other Hanseatic cities in the Altmark present their cultural-historic treasures through the year, including fascinating buildings such as elaborate city gates, awe-inspiring churches or proud city halls. Experience exciting Hasnse guides tours, culinary enjoyments, active Hanse offers for biking, riding or hiking for the entire family, Hanseatic markets and festivals that supplement the Altmark Hanseatic year of 2008 in a diverse manner.

Plan to visit a tree cake bakery in any case. Salzwedel has been the home of this speciality baked over open fire for 150 years. Visit the Winckelmann- Museum in Stendal with tis 16 m high, accessible Trojan horse.

In Havelberg, the St. Mary's cathedral is a fascinating building along the "Romantic Road" with a mixture of Romanic and Gothic style elements. Tangermünde is one of those cities in Northern Germany that have maintained their medical appearance to this day. The city looks back on about a millennium of history. Brick buildings, a nearly closed city wall, the castle, the historic city hall, and make half, timbered houses give the town its unique charm.

For "Garden Dreams" visitors to the historic parks in Saxony-Anhalt, Altmark offers the castle and former castle park Krumke bear Osterburg, the ramparts in Gardelegen, built around 1300, and the town park of the Wagenführ family in Tangerhütte from 1870. They can take a guided walk through the park and learn many interesting facts about the life and work of the industrial family.

In the North of the region, you can enjoy water sports on the Arendsee. The largest lake in Saxony-Anhalt, it is one of the deepest and cleanest bodies of water in Northern Germany. Since 1998, it has received the Blue European Flag award every Year. Use its ideal prerequisites for your surfing, sailing, beach or diving holiday or explore the lake by ship with the paddle steamer "Queen Arendsee".

More information on the region:

Tourismusverband Altmark e.V.
Marktstraße 13
39590 Tangermünde
Phone: 039322 3460
Fax: 039322 43233
Email: tv@altmarktourismus.de
www.altmarktourismus.de