Discover Erxleben

Erxleben brings together the history of Burg Erxleben and Schloss Erxleben II, art in the palace church, and a pharmaceutical collection. The nearby Bartenslebener Forest is another attraction. Visitors planning a trip can therefore explore the town from several perspectives: historic building phases, church art, the history of pharmacy, and nature.

Burg Erxleben and Schloss Erxleben II

The Hausmann Tower was built after 1219 as a stone gate tower, with a drawbridge spanning the outer moat. It is the oldest surviving building at Burg Erxleben and is two-thirds Romanesque. Its history therefore combines an early construction date with a clearly defined function as a gatehouse.

The development of Schloss Erxleben II can be traced through several building phases: construction began in 1526 on the foundations of the Neue Kemenate, dating from 1430. In 1563, the Hinterschloss was added as a south side wing in Renaissance style. To its west, the former brewery or malt house had already been built by 1563; it was later converted into a residence. The three-storey Vorderschloss had been renovated by 1682. The German Foundation for Monument Protection has supported conservation work at the palace, which is considered a monument of significance beyond the region.

Art and cultural history

The palace church of St. Godehardt was built between 1564 and 1580 and contains works of art spanning four centuries. These include a carved Baroque altar, as well as the elaborately crafted pulpit and preacher’s pew by Tobias Wilhelmi the Elder. The organ was made by Heinrich Herbst; an epitaph commemorates Joachim I von Alvensleben. The palace church also hosts concerts, services, readings, exhibitions, and guided tours. If you would like to include an event in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

Pharmacy and museum

The museum in the pharmacy displays a pharmaceutical collection spanning the period from the early 17th century to the GDR era. It also includes objects from the Erxleben pharmacy. The Erxleben pharmacy is considered one of the oldest pharmacies in the region. Please check current access arrangements before visiting the museum. A biography is also linked to a specific place: Albert Niemann was born on January 15, 1831, at the Gasthaus zur Post in Erxleben.

Woodland and cycling project

Near Erxleben, the Bartenslebener Forest and the Erxleben Forest form a continuous woodland covering more than ten square kilometers. The nature reserve contains natural beech and oak-hornbeam forests, considered particularly scenic. Large sinkholes formed there when gypsum dissolved underground. The forest is a habitat for cranes and greenshanks and is designated as the EU Special Area of Conservation “Bartenslebener Forst im Aller-Hügelland.” The woodland offers opportunities for extended walks, providing a focus distinct from Erxleben’s cultural attractions.

Cycling is also associated with Erxleben, though through a planned project: A 2022 project description by the district envisaged the Ferkeltaxenradweg as a 28-kilometer panoramic cycling route along the disused Eilsleben–Haldensleben railway line; Erxleben was one of the participating municipalities. Erxleben/Uhrsleben station is a project hub, with connections to Erxleben and Uhrsleben. Before setting out on a specific cycling trip, check which sections have been completed.

In the wider destination of Börde

The central part of Börde district is hilly and includes the Erxleben-Hörsingen ridge. Across the district, the landscape stretches from the fertile Börde in the south—the largest contiguous black-earth region in Germany—to the meadows and wetlands of the Drömling in the north.

If you are considering Erxleben as a place to stay overnight, your preferred focus for the trip can help you decide: architectural and church history, the pharmaceutical collection, or walks in the nearby forest. It is best to include a planned cycling trip only after checking the status of the relevant sections.

Discover more destinations: Schwaneberg, Alleringersleben, Born, Oschersleben, Oebisfelde-Weferlingen, Haldensleben, Wanzleben, Eilsleben

View the wider travel overview: Börde.