Hardly any town has managed to preserve its medieval townscape as beautifully as Tangermünde. With a history of almost 1,000 years, the town looks back on many traditions and special features that make it a popular destination for tourists and locals today. Above the mouth of the Tanger river, at the heart of the town, stands the old castle, built around 800 years ago to protect the town. In the midst of the impressive fortifications stands St Stephen’s Church, whose 87-metre north tower watches over the whole area, surrounded by many other towers and castle-like houses. The impressive town wall, whose red brick is reflected in the water of the river, encloses the town and underlines its medieval flair. What was originally a small market village developed in the 13th century into a handsome town that still attracts many visitors today.
Old town and castle grounds – historic places in Tangermünde
The old town of Tangermünde looks back on a history of almost 1,000 years. Tangermünde Castle, today the centre of the lively town, was first mentioned in 1009 in a chronicle by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg and was continually extended over time. During the Second World War the town remained almost untouched, apart from a few half-timbered houses, and the old town hardly changed during the GDR era either. After reunification, investment was gradually made in restoring the existing monuments, which can now be admired in their former beauty. In 2006 the well-known town fountain in front of St Stephen’s Church was built, marking the end of the town’s restoration. The impressive old town and the fascinating castle grounds are open to visitors and attract many tourists to the region. In the Schlossfreiheit Tangermünde, the oldest surviving residential building, dating from 1543, an extensive castle museum has been set up and is well worth a visit.
Tangermünde harbour and the impressive town fortifications
It is not only the old town itself that has a lot to offer interested visitors – the extensive harbour with its impressive fortifications still delights locals and tourists today. Historically, the mouth of the Tanger offered ideal conditions for a large harbour, which became the basis of the flourishing economy of the trading town. The originally natural river branch was extensively enlarged and developed for this purpose. Today the harbour is used mainly by pleasure boats, but passenger boat trips are also offered here. Especially in the summer months, a trip to Tangermünde harbour is worthwhile to admire the impressive beauty of the region from the water and see the town’s historic buildings from a completely different angle.
Eating and drinking in Tangermünde
If you decide on a trip to Tangermünde, you can look forward not only to an impressive townscape shaped by historic events and traditional buildings – the region also has a lot to offer in culinary terms. The Schlosshotel restaurant, right next to the castle, is particularly popular. In the warmer months we also recommend its garden café, with an unobstructed view of Tangermünde’s beautiful old town.
Another highlight with a long tradition in the town is the SCHULZENS brewery. Its unique beer “DIE DICKE DÖRTHE”, which has become a symbol of Tangermünde, can be bought here in the farm shop, including in the special 2-litre bottle. The brewery’s adventure courtyard also invites you to eat, drink, celebrate and dance. The rustic vaulted bar is a great place to linger, and the historic museum of curiosities has all sorts of oddities in store for you.
If you are looking for rustic restaurants designed in the old style that capture the flair of the old town, we recommend the Exempel Gaststuben or the Zecherei St. Nikolai. Both restaurants serve tasty regional food – hearty, robust dishes steeped in Tangermünde tradition.
The Tangermünde coffee roastery is an absolute must, and not only for coffee lovers. Discover how differently one and the same coffee can taste depending on how it is prepared. Of course, you can taste the different coffees on site and buy the full-bodied coffee from the roastery to enjoy at home.
We also had a very good meal at the restaurant Zu Tisch bei Lai on Lange Straße: Asian cuisine, freshly prepared, in a modern restaurant.
Last but not least, we recommend Kaffee Engel , which has become a small institution in Tangermünde. Its fantastic range of cakes and gateaux offers the perfect treat for every taste, while the historic setting invites you to linger.
Souvenir shops in Tangermünde
Numerous small shops throughout the old town offer fantastic souvenirs to remind you of your trip to the medieval town. A special highlight is the branch of Ostprodukte Versand, which specialises in former GDR products. The flair of the old days will enchant you, as will over 1,000 different “Ossi” (East German) products on sale in the former post office building in Tangermünde. The shop’s trademark is half a Trabant car sticking out of the wall, which stands out and underlines the GDR feeling.
