Discover Börde: Landscape, Culture and the History of Technology

Black earth soils, wetlands and a large lime forest give Börde a landscape defined by striking contrasts.

A landscape between black earth soils and lowlands

The Börde district stretches from the fertile Börde in the south, Germany’s largest contiguous area of black earth soil, to the meadows and wetlands of the Drömling in the north. In the centre, wooded ridges and the Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide shape the district; the heath is home to Europe’s largest contiguous lime forest. The landscape thus shifts between fertile soil, lowlands and wooded heights. For planning your trip, this contrast offers a useful framework for exploring nature and culture as distinct themes.

Culture and historic buildings

Churches, monasteries, castles, fortresses, museums and historic monuments are among Börde’s notable destinations. The “Road of Romanesque Architecture” includes ten different sites for visitors in the district. There are also numerous castles, fortresses and manor houses that document the former wealth of the landed aristocracy. Together, these buildings offer different ways to explore history: the Romanesque route brings together ten sites under one theme, while the aristocratic residences draw attention to the former importance of the landed aristocracy.

Hundisburg Castle and garden design

Hundisburg Castle is one of the most significant rural Baroque castles in Saxony-Anhalt. The castle is accompanied by historic gardens and parkland. In the Baroque garden, perfect symmetry and detailed horticultural design take centre stage. Here, the architecture of a significant rural Baroque castle meets a carefully designed garden. Visitors interested in historic architectural styles can extend their visit by exploring the art of garden design; both aspects shape the character of Hundisburg Castle.

The history of technology at the Hundisburg Brickworks

The Hundisburg Brickworks Technical Monument combines a brickworks with a technology museum. Its topics include brick production using the hand-striking method, a coarse ceramics workshop for moulding and pottery, a building materials workshop and a carpentry shop. The different areas focus on bricks, ceramics, building materials and woodworking, giving the site a different emphasis from castle and garden culture.

The historic narrow-gauge railway offers another way to explore the site: the approximately two-kilometre visitor ride passes historic kilns, a bucket-chain excavator and the former clay pit. The route connects several notable features of the brickworks’ history. The difference between Hundisburg’s attractions is clear: the castle and Baroque garden represent architecture and garden design, while the brickworks focuses on production, workshops and the history of technology.

Saxony-Anhalt in a wider travel context

Beyond Börde, Saxony-Anhalt offers further cultural themes. The Arche Nebra Visitor Centre is located at the place where the Nebra Sky Disc was found. The Bauhaus Dessau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Bauhaus building, the Masters’ Houses and the Törten estate offer guided tours, workshops and discussions about design and society. Saxony-Anhalt has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These examples from across the state complement the local perspective on Börde with further facets of the Saxony-Anhalt travel destination.

Discover more destinations: Ummendorf, Hohenwarsleben, Alleringersleben, Barleben, Bülstringen, Haldensleben, Jersleben, Oschersleben, Osterweddingen, Schwaneberg, Süplingen, Wanzleben, Wolmirstedt, Sülldorf, Glindenberg, Bertingen, Colbitz, Born, Eilsleben, Hohe Börde, Harbke, Oebisfelde-Weferlingen, Rogätz, Ingersleben, Altenhausen, Flechtingen, Erxleben, Wanzleben-Börde, Sülzetal, Angern, Loitsche-Heinrichsberg, Calvörde, Gröningen, Ausleben, Wefensleben, Kroppenstedt, Eimersleben, Niedere Börde, Sommersdorf.

Go to the main travel overview: Saxony-Anhalt.