The best traffic-free bike rides around Haldensleben

The development of water transport technology becomes clear during a visit to the historic Rothensee ship lift. In 1938, the ship lift was put into operation. Leipzig designers opted at the time for a principle that had not yet been practically applied anywhere for a structure of this magnitude: A lift whose trough rested on two movable floats. With the help of the water-filled trough, which together with the two floats and the support structures has a total weight of around 5,400 tons, ships could thus "descend" from the Mittellandkanal and towards the Elbe. Depending on the water level of the Elbe, a gradient between 11 and 18 meters is compensated. With a trough length of 85 meters, a width of 12 meters, and a water depth in the trough of 2.5 meters, the dimensions are, however, too small for today's large motor cargo ships. For this reason, the ship lift was decommissioned in 2006. Since then, the state capital Magdeburg, supported by various stakeholders and with broad public approval, has been committed to its seasonal continued operation. With success: Since the summer of 2013, the ship lift has been seasonally operated again for tourist purposes. The ship lift in Magdeburg-Rothensee is a unique monument due to its technology and history. It is a brilliant design, its construction was an engineering masterpiece. It is the second oldest of only four ship lifts still in operation in Germany and the only two-float ship lift in Germany still in operation. A visit is worthwhile for this reason alone, as the immediate proximity of the state-of-the-art Sparschleuse to the ship lift, as a historical technical monument, makes the developments in water transport technology visible. Data and facts: Usable length: 85 meters Usable width: 12 meters Lift height: 10.45 to 18.46 meters depending on the Elbe water level Water depth in the trough: 2.58 meters Usable size: 82 meters x 9.5 meters x 2 meters Total moving weight: 5,400 tons https://www.magdeburg-tourist.de/Tourismus-Freizeit/System/Schiffshebewerk/

Currently being restored

The historic Haldensleben town hall is a noteworthy, listed, two-story building on the east side of the market square in Haldensleben. With its distinctive neoclassical facade, it shapes the historic center of the city. A building from 1579 previously stood on this site, which is still remembered today by a relief plaque with a coat of arms. The current building was originally erected in the Baroque style between 1701 and 1703. The town hall received its current appearance through a renovation between 1815 and 1823. It has an eleven-bay facade and a three-bay central projection with a gable. In 1910, an extension was added on the east side, whose staircase features noteworthy Art Nouveau glazing. From the year 2000 onwards, historic half-timbered houses located to the north were also integrated into the complex. At the entrance, there is a plaque from 1905, created by the sculptor Rudolf Uffrecht for the 100th anniversary of Friedrich Schiller's death. Directly in front of the town hall on the market square stands the statue of the "Riding Roland". It is the city's landmark and symbolizes the old market and town rights. A historic crossroads and legal stone is the "Breite Stein", which is also located on the square in front of the building. https://pages.destination.one/de/niedersachsen-contenthub/streaming/detail/POI/p_100235502/rathaus-haldensleben

In 1882, a brick factory was founded in Hundisburg, which produced bricks until 1990. After its closure, a support association was founded in 1991, which transformed the former factory and the grounds into a technical monument. Today, the Technical Monument offers a unique insight into the history of brick production for Germany. In the former clay pit, a wetland biotope was created, and in the drying barn of the facility, a ceramics workshop that finds versatile appreciation from schools and artists. Many visitors are attracted by the annual Brickmakers' Festival, which takes place in May as part of the International Museum Day. Guided tours, rides on the narrow-gauge railway, and creative work with clay in the coarse ceramics workshop are not only well and gladly utilized on this day. Furthermore, the support association integrates the brick factory into the cultural scene in Hundisburg with its own regular concert events. The annual jazz concert as part of the SommerMusikAkademie at Hundisburg Castle has become an event of supra-regional importance. Scientific conferences and seminars make Hundisburg known throughout Germany. Admission: Adults: €3.00 Children (5 to 14 years): €1.50 https://www.haldensleben.de/Kultur-Tourismus/Tourismus/Sehensw%C3%BCrdigkeiten/

The Protestant Church of St. Marien in Haldensleben was built on the foundations of older church buildings. A church already stood here before the destruction of the town of Haldensleben by troops of the Magdeburg Archbishop Wichmann in 1181. This one was also destroyed in 1181. Together with the reconstruction of the town, the construction of a new church began in 1223. Starting in 1375, the construction of a three-nave church in the Gothic style began. However, during a town fire in 1661, this building was also largely destroyed. The reconstruction was completed in 1675. The church had two towers and otherwise essentially corresponded to its current form. After the collapse of the southern tower, the northern tower was also demolished in 1808. A new tower was erected starting in 1812. In the southern church wall are the gravestones of the well-known Haldensleben mayors Joachim and Sebastian Alstein. The altar and pulpit were newly created in Baroque forms after the town fire in 1666. https://www.haldensleben.de/Kultur-Tourismus/Tourismus/Sehensw%C3%BCrdigkeiten/

On the Gräberweg east of the 'Küchentannen' grave, you can find further mostly destroyed graves: a Stone Age cemetery with 'row graves'

Highlight 4 of the 4 Million Years of Man cycle route: It's still too early for a rest at the very beginning of the tour, but the mill pond is definitely worth a stop.

A church worth seeing with beautiful stained glass windows, open from 10am to 6pm from May to October.