Bernburg (Saale): Discover the castle, the Saale and culture

In Bernburg (Saale), the range of experiences extends from castle architecture and views over the Saale to wildlife watching, theatre and paths through the river landscape. Whether you want to focus on cultural history, excursions on the water or outdoor activities on land, there are different ways to explore the town.

Castle and Saale Valley from different perspectives

The keep of Bernburg Castle is 42 metres high, with walls 3.60 metres thick. It is considered the castle’s most imposing structure and a landmark. From the castle terrace, the view stretches across the Saale Valley, the remaining floodplain forests and the foothills of the Harz Mountains. On very clear days, the Brocken is also visible.

Another viewpoint is the Keßlerturm: built in 1913, it is 26 metres high and offers views across the Saale Valley. On very clear days, the view extends as far as the Brocken. The castle grounds, inner courtyard and gardens are also open year-round at no charge. Check access conditions before your trip.

On the water, by bike and on foot

The MS Saalefee offers excursions through the Saale Valley, including coffee, lock, sightseeing, dinner and moonlight cruises. Food is available on board; along the way, you can look out for the flora and fauna of the floodplain forests beside the river. Each type of cruise has a different focus, from the experience of passing through a lock to a moonlight cruise.

The Saale Cycle Route is around 460 kilometres long and follows the Saale from its source near Zell in Bavaria to its mouth near Barby in Saxony-Anhalt. Near Bernburg, it runs from Alsleben via Gröna and a pedestrian bridge into Bernburg, then onwards towards Wedlitz. Many cycling routes start and end at the Lower Saale Valley Nature Park office at Bernburg railway station. They take in the landscape and culture between Plötzkau, Bernburg and Nienburg, offering a local perspective on the river landscape.

Many hiking trails also start and end at the nature park office by the railway station. The Bernburg Saale Valley Trail passes important buildings in the town. Cycling and hiking routes thus cater to different interests: one way of exploring covers longer distances, while the other combines exercise with the buildings along the route.

Zoo and Fairy-Tale Garden

Bernburg Zoo covers 8.5 hectares and is home to more than 900 animals from around 125 species of wild animals and domestic breeds. The route is divided into sections for Africa, Eurasia, Australia and the Americas. A particular focus is the conservation breeding of threatened and rarely exhibited species.

The “Paradies” Fairy-Tale Garden offers a different kind of attraction: across more than 2,000 square metres, eleven Grimm fairy tales are brought to life by pneumatically controlled figures that move and speak. The grounds also include a beer garden and dining options. The zoo and fairy-tale garden offer different themes for a day out: animal species and conservation breeding on the one hand, fairy-tale scenes and moving figures on the other.

Museum, churches and theatre

Bernburg Castle Museum presents 243 million years of history through dinosaur tracks, archaeological finds, the history of the residence, industrial heritage and Till Eulenspiegel. The exhibits also include vessels from the Bernburg culture. In 1892, Alfred Götze used these finds to coin the term “Bernburg type” for a Neolithic civilisation that lived along the Saale.

The town’s architectural history can be traced at other sites, too: the remains of St. Pankratius Castle Chapel have been preserved; the chapel was probably built in the 12th or 13th century. St. Aegidien Castle Church was first documented in 1375 as the parish church of Bernburg’s upper town. It later served the princes of Anhalt-Bernburg as a castle church and burial place.

The Carl Maria von Weber Theatre presents opera, operetta, musicals and concerts, as well as theatre education, tragedy and comedy. The programme may change. Together with the exhibitions and historic buildings, it forms a cultural offering that ranges from prehistory to a variety of performing arts.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Staßfurt, Nienburg, Baalberge, Wolmirsleben, Seeland, Welsleben, Aschersleben, Egeln.

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