Brandenburg an der Havel: Culture and History

Brandenburg an der Havel offers a range of ways to shape your stay: industrial history, archaeology, city landmarks, music and tours. You can choose what to focus on depending on whether you want to visit exhibitions, join a guided tour or take in views of the city and its surroundings from above. If you’re looking for a hotel, this selection can help you plan your itinerary around your interests.

Museums: from Industry to Archaeology

At the Brandenburg an der Havel Industrial Museum, you can see a Siemens-Martin furnace and the associated equipment for charging, melting and casting. The focus is therefore not just on the furnace: the equipment involved in supplying materials, melting and casting is also part of the visit. Check the museum’s opening details before your trip.

The permanent exhibition at the Brandenburg State Archaeological Museum offers a different perspective on time. It presents around 10,000 selected exhibits and provides an overview of some 50,000 years of Brandenburg’s cultural history. The two figures describe different things: one gives an approximate number of exhibits, while the other refers to the broad time span of the region’s cultural history. The Brandenburg an der Havel City Museum also features a permanent exhibition on Brandenburg toys.

City Landmarks and Music

The Roland statue in Brandenburg an der Havel is a 5.35-metre-high sandstone figure dating from 1474. It symbolises the city’s freedoms. Its height, material and year of origin give the figure a clear historical context; its significance goes beyond depicting a single person.

Music offers another way to experience the city’s culture: the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra performs classical, Romantic and modern orchestral music. These repertoire areas offer a distinct programme alongside the museum themes. When planning, you can decide whether you are more interested in exhibits and city history or in orchestral music.

Panoramic Views and a Bike Tour

From the uppermost outdoor viewing platform of the Friedenswarte observation tower on Marienberg, you can enjoy sweeping views of Brandenburg an der Havel and the extensive belt of forests and lakes. The view takes in both the city and its surrounding landscape. Check the Friedenswarte’s operating details before your visit.

The 7-Lakes Tour starts and ends at Neustädtischer Markt. Having the same start and end point is useful when planning if you prefer a tour with a fixed departure and return point. No duration or route length is given here, so base your further planning on the tour information relevant to you.

Guided Tours and Trip Planning

The tourism programme includes historical and themed city tours. These include one-hour introductory historical city tours, as well as a monk-themed tour, a Vicco von Bülow tour and a pug-themed tour. The range of subjects offers several ways to explore the city. Check dates and booking options in advance, as the current tour schedule may change.

Berlin can also be included as a separate destination in your travel plans: the R1 regional express runs from Brandenburg an der Havel Central Station to central Berlin every half hour, and the journey takes about 40 minutes. If Berlin is also part of your itinerary, you can take this approximate travel time into account when planning. Check the timetable and journey time before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Cottbus, Frankfurt / Oder.

View the overview of destinations: Brandenburg.