Discover Apenburg-Winterfeld

In Apenburg-Winterfeld, visitors’ interests range from a Neolithic megalithic tomb and medieval fieldstone churches to a castle, a show garden and a forest swimming pool. If you are looking for accommodation, you can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most: history, gardens or swimming.

Traces from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages

The Winterfeld megalithic tomb is a burial site associated with the Neolithic Funnelbeaker culture. The term “megalithic tomb” refers to the large stones used in this type of grave. The villages’ fieldstone churches preserve examples of High and Late Medieval architecture. Archaeological remains thus stand alongside church buildings from later periods.

The Winterfeld fieldstone church stands on an older sacred site. A dendrochronological study—a dating method based on tree rings—placed the construction of the church at around 1204. The site therefore has a longer sacred history than the church building, which dates to approximately 1204.

Apenburg Old Castle was built in the 13th century to secure the Purnitz Pass and historic road links: between Salzwedel and Gardelegen, and between Braunschweig and Osterburg. Its history therefore also includes the task of protecting these routes and the pass. The well-preserved keep is a distinctive architectural feature. Visits to the castle are possible by prior arrangement.

Hagen village church has a distinctive orientation: it is one of the Altmark’s “reversed churches,” because its tower faces east instead of west. This unusual change in orientation clearly sets it apart from the familiar church forms one might otherwise expect to see in medieval architecture.

The Apenburg Castle Festival is a recurring cultural event held around the Old Castle. Visitors can experience traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, spinning, basket weaving, knife sharpening and rope making. These demonstrations complement the architectural history with craft traditions. Check the event dates before your visit.

Show garden, active exploration and forest swimming

The Quadendambeck show garden covers around 8,000 square metres and features plants, animals and a pond. The grounds also include a historic half-timbered building dating from 1797. This brings nature and a building from the late 18th century together in the garden—a different focus from the churches and castle.

Hiking and cycling are promoted as ways to explore the visitor attractions. They complement the individual cultural sites with active ways to explore the area. When planning your trip, you can take in the historic sites and garden from a range of thematic perspectives.

The Apenburg forest swimming pool has a 40-metre-long swimming pool, a three-metre diving board, a family pool and a non-swimmers’ pool. The facilities also include beach volleyball, football pitches and mini golf. Swimming is therefore one of several activities available on land and in the water. As facilities may change, check the details before your visit.

The wider region

The Altmark Circular Route offers a broader perspective on cycling and cultural attractions in the wider Altmarkkreis Salzwedel travel region. The route is almost 500 kilometres long and passes through forests and meadows, by numerous brick and fieldstone churches. For much of its length, it runs through the Altmarkkreis close to the “Green Belt Germany.”

The Altmark Circular Route comprises ten stages with varied surfaces: asphalt, concrete track slabs, paved farm and forest tracks, sandy agricultural paths and quiet roads. For regional connections, the municipality is linked to the B 71.

This allows you to choose where to stay based on the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Winterfeld, Salzwedel, Beetzendorf, Wallstawe, Dähre, Jübar, Klötze, Diesdorf.

View the regional travel overview: Altmarkkreis Salzwedel.