Brandenburg an der Havel

Brandenburg an der Havel is the third-largest town in the German state of Brandenburg. The town of some 72,000 inhabitants (2019) focuses on culture, gardens and tourism, having hosted the federal horticultural show in 2015.

Understand
Brandenburg an der Havel (sometimes called Brandenburg City to distinguish it from the eponymous state) is considered the nucleus or cradle of the historical Margraviate and today's State of Brandenburg. It was populated first by Slavs, then conquered by the troops of German King Henry I in 928 or 929. 20 years later, Otto I established the Bishopric of Brandenburg that held both religious and secular power in the region. During the 983 Great Slav Rising, it was reconquered by pagan Slavs, until Albert the Bear founded the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1157, populating it with Christian, German-speaking settlers. The Brandenburg cathedral was started in 1165.

From the 12th to 18th century, Brandenburg actually consisted of two cities, separated by the River Havel and each protected by its own walls: one centred around the castle, serving as the capital of the secular Margraviate of Brandenburg; and one containing the cathedral, being the residence of the religious Prince-Bishopric of Brandenburg. After the Reformation, the Bishopric was annexed by the Margraviate. The Hohenzollern dynasty moved the capital of the Margraviate to Berlin after 1415, nevertheless Brandenburg an der Havel long claimed to be the higher-ranking city due to its old age. During the Thirty Years War, Brandenburg was severely damaged, lost most of its population and importance.

The town experienced a second boom during industrialisation. The Brennabor works were a famous producer of bicycles, prams, cars and motorcycles; and the town's population doubled within a few decades. Under East Germany's communist rule, Brandenburg again was a site of heavy industries, having major steelworks and mills. After reunification, it was deindustrialised, many people lost their jobs and moved away.

Berlin's most famous landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, is named after Brandenburg an der Havel.

Get in
Brandenburg is on the Berlin–Magdeburg railway route, but intercity trains rarely stop here. Instead it is served by half-hourly regional express trains from Potsdam (taking 20–25 minutes) and Berlin (45–55 minutes), hourly from Magdeburg (50 minutes) and Frankfurt (Oder) (two hours).

The closest airport is Berlin Brandenburg Airport, 90 km east of Brandenburg. It takes about 1 hr 20 min to go from the airport to Brandenburg by train (via Potsdam Park Sanssouci).

Brandenburg is on the B 1 highway, 70 km from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and 40 km west of Potsdam. From the Autobahn A 2 (Berlin–Hanover) you may take the exits Brandenburg or Wollin.

Get around
The Verkehrsbetriebe Brandenburg an der Havel (VBBr) operate three tramways, eight urban buses and five night bus lines. The price for a single ticket is €1.70; for a day ticket €3.60.

See



 * BRBHavel asv2022-07 img13 Rathaus.jpg
 * Remains of the medieval city fortifications of the Old Town and New Town:

Go next

 * Werder (Havel), picturesque town on an island, its surroundings are famous for growing fruit, 30 km east (12 minutes by train; also linked by the Havel cycle trail)
 * Potsdam, state capital of Brandenburg and former residence of Prussian Kings with Baroque palaces and extensive gardens, 40 km east (25 minutes by train)
 * Stendal, medieval old town, 65 km northwest
 * Berlin, capital of Germany and cultural metropolis, 70 km east (50 minutes by train)
 * Wittenberg, where Martin Luther published his 95 theses and initiated the Protestant Reformation, 75 km south
 * Magdeburg, state capital of Saxony-Anhalt with medieval cathedral and monastery, 85 km southwest (50 minutes by train)