Zerbst/Anhalt: History, Gardens and Cycling Routes

Zerbst/Anhalt brings together monastery history, courtly heritage and routes through a varied landscape. In the town, historic churches and a museum in a former Franciscan monastery meet the palace garden; in the Zerbst region, cycling routes through floodplains, fields, meadows and forests add to the mix. When planning your trip, you can combine culture and outdoor activities or focus on each separately.

Monastery, Catherine II and Town History

The Museum of the City of Zerbst/Anhalt is housed in a former Franciscan monastery. Ornamental details in the refectory and chapter house recall the monastery’s past. The exhibition connects the town’s history with the Reformation and education. A prison cell with historic inscriptions from the 17th century also recalls the town’s university history.

The “Catherine II” Collection is a separate branch of the museum. It is dedicated to the life and work of Catherine II. The “Catherine the Great” visitor route offers another way to explore the town’s history: its ten courtly stops cover the life of the Anhalt princess, her family and the history of Zerbst. The museum offers guided tours of its permanent and special exhibitions and holds talks on historical topics. Before your visit, check the current guided tour options and talk schedule.

The churches, too, each offer a different historical perspective. St. Nicolai stands in the market square as the ruins of what was once the largest hall church in Anhalt. Despite the war damage, St. Bartholomäi is still used as a Protestant parish church. Its interior includes tomb slabs of princely family members, frescoes and a panel painting by Lucas Cranach the Younger depicting the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan.

Visits to the palace are available in a special format: they take place exclusively as part of guided tours or accompanied walks. Check the current visiting arrangements before planning your visit.

Palace Garden, Town Wall and Cycling Routes

The palace garden covers 153,900 square metres and includes a palace pond. The medieval town wall offers a different measure of a walk through the town: explore Zerbst’s history on foot along its approximately four kilometres. A stay can therefore include both a spacious garden and a historic route through the town.

The Zerbst region between the Elbe and the Fläming offers around 40 kilometres of cycling routes. They pass through river floodplains, fields, meadows and forests. For longer rides, the Fläming Cycle Route is an option: it connects the EuroVelo 1 route near Bad Belzig with the Elbe Cycle Route near Walternienburg or Dessau-Roßlau. Near Garitz, it branches off towards Zerbst via Walternienburg. Check current route conditions before setting off.

There is an e-bike charging station in Zerbst/Anhalt on Schlossfreiheit, with two charging sockets. It is close to the palace, the palace garden, St. Bartholomäi and the town centre. Across from it are bicycle racks and the branch of the “Catherine II” Collection. Infrastructure details and access may change; check the latest information before travelling.

Asparagus is a seasonal culinary highlight: it is grown in sandy soils in the Vorfläming and near the Elbe and is associated with visits to Zerbst/Anhalt. Whether asparagus is available during your trip depends on the season.

Plan a Stay That Suits You

If you are mainly interested in the town’s history, the museum, churches and “Catherine the Great” route can be your main points of focus. If you would like to spend more time outdoors, you can choose from the palace garden, town wall and cycling routes in the Zerbst region. If you are travelling together, you can divide your stay accordingly: one part focused on history, another on outdoor activities and the landscape.

The wider Anhalt-Bitterfeld travel region also provides geographical context: the district lies along the Elbe and Mulde rivers between the Dübener Heide and the Fläming and covers 1,450 square kilometres. The Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve is regarded as a place for tranquillity, experiences and recreation. These wider regional connections add to the picture of Zerbst/Anhalt without replacing its local urban and natural experiences.

Discover More Places

Discover more places: Reuden and Lindau.

Discover more destinations: Muldestausee, Aken, Walternienburg, Köthen (Anhalt), Osternienburger Land, Zörbig.

Go to the main travel overview: Anhalt-Bitterfeld.