Discover Schönhausen / Elbe

Schönhausen / Elbe is closely connected with the history of Otto von Bismarck. The Bismarck Museum, the nearby Romanesque church, and the Baroque park belonging to the former estate can all be combined in a visit.

Bismarck Museum in his birthplace

The Bismarck Museum is housed in the preserved side wing of the manor house where Otto von Bismarck was born. The exhibition includes gifts Bismarck received, personal belongings, and historical images connected with his political career. You will encounter both personal mementos and images from the politician’s public life. The museum offers public and group tours, as well as events focused on historical and political education. Visiting arrangements may change; check dates and current visitor information before planning your visit.

Church where he was baptized and Baroque park

The church where Otto von Bismarck was baptized in Schönhausen is St. Mary and Willebrord. It is part of the Romanesque Route and has a Baroque interior. One striking feature is the eight-metre-high altarpiece. The church also bears the “Open Church” and “Cyclists’ Church” designations; a church tour follows a route marked by a total of eleven QR codes. Opening arrangements may change, so check them before your visit. Together with the museum and the Baroque park of the former estate, the church offers another way to explore local history.

Plan your journey

For travel, the Bismarck Museum lists regional train RB 34 from Stendal or Rathenow, as well as connections to and from Magdeburg and Berlin. Check the timetable before departure so that your journey fits your planned visit dates. If you are looking for a hotel, you can decide based on your interests whether the museum and church will be the focus of your stay or whether you would also like to include destinations in the wider Stendal travel region.

More destinations in the wider Stendal travel region

In the wider Stendal travel region, Stendal Zoo adds wildlife experiences to cultural visits: there you can observe more than 500 animals from 75 species at close range. Children can feed and pet goats in the petting enclosure and then enjoy the adventure playground. These attractions are at Stendal Zoo, not in Schönhausen / Elbe.

The historical sites associated with the Stendal travel region also extend beyond Schönhausen. In Tangermünde, from 1373 to 1378 the castle served as a secondary residence of Emperor Charles IV alongside the Hradčany in Prague. The town is defined by its very well-preserved medieval centre; the Tangermünde Gate is considered the oldest city gate in northeastern Germany. In Stendal, the Uenglingen Gate, a preserved part of the former town fortifications, offers panoramic views over the town and its surroundings. St. Mary’s Church houses a gilded high altar dating from 1471, one of the most significant examples of woodcarving of its time in northern Germany. You can take these different historical highlights into account when deciding which destinations to add to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Aland, Birkholz, Klietz, Rochau, Tangermünde, Havelberg, Wanzer, Wust-Fischbeck.

Back to the wider travel overview: Stendal.