There is no question that Saxony-Anhalt offers the most beautiful destinations for big visitors: The huge range of sights starts with the urban charm of colorful metropolises and does not end with the magic of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But the state is just as attractive for younger visitors; young and older children as well as entire families will find countless attractions here. Have you ever climbed a Trojan horse or taken a cable car to the Hexentanzplatz? We name five real family excursion destinations for young and old.
The town of 39,000 inhabitants is located west of the Elbe River in the southeastern Altmark region, about 55 kilometers north of Magdeburg. The Winckelmann Museum is located in the city center, on the site of Johann Joachim Winckelmann's birthplace.
The capital of Saxony-Anhalt, located on the Elbe River, is the second largest city in the state with a good 237,000 inhabitants. The city's landmark is Magdeburg Cathedral.
The town of 17,000 inhabitants is located on the northeastern edge of the Harz Mountains. The Bode Valley begins above the state-recognized resort.
The city of 32,000 inhabitants in the south of Saxony-Anhalt is a state-recognized health resort. The landmark is Naumburg Cathedral in the medieval old town.
It is 13 meters long, 9.50 meters wide and almost 16 meters high: The Trojan horse in the outdoor area of the Winckelmann Museum in Stendal was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest of its kind in the world. Anyone who climbs up inside the 45-ton colossus learns a lot about the theme of the saga and also enjoys a great view of the town and the site from above. And it's a great destination for all ages: In addition to the exhibition on the life and work of the well-traveled Stendal archaeologist Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768), there is plenty to marvel at and experience in the museum's newly designed family and children's park, especially for younger visitors.
This way, kids can discover the ancient world interactively: For example, shoot with bows and arrows, try out stilts and hobby horses, play on ancient instruments or create mummy masks. You can explore a large green labyrinth, learn all about a volcanic eruption or even climb the Trojan horse. The Winckelmann Society and the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences also organize a two-hour children's university every Saturday during the summer and winter semesters on topics such as "Warts, brooms, lumbago: What's the truth about the witch myth?" - curious youngsters between the ages of eight and twelve are invited.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Stendal: Plan arrival.
The state capital Magdeburg has a green heart. Where the Federal Garden Show once took place on the right bank of the Elbe, the approximately 100-hectare Elbauenparkwhich today is considered one of the most popular leisure attractions in Saxony-Anhalt. With its wide green spaces, flower shows, lake stage, butterfly house, water playground, maze, sports facilities including fitness course and bouncy cushions, climbing park, art objects, fallow deer and petting enclosure, themed gardens, barbecue pavilions and much more, it is one of the most important sights and recreational areas in Magdeburg. Visitors from near and far can ride the Elbauen Express through the green area in comfort, and you can also take a rickshaw, Segway or e-scooter.
Landmark of the park and all of Magdeburg is the striking millennium tower, which can be seen from afar and is the tallest wooden building of its kind in the world at 60 meters. With around 200 exhibits (150 of which are interactive), it illuminates more than 6,000 years of human history and technology, a real family attraction for young and old. Kids also especially love the summer toboggan run and the 16-meter-high slide tower, where the three-lane wide-wave track takes them steeply downhill. Another thrill for young and old is probably the only rope slide in the middle of a state capital: the ElbauenZip takes you from the millennium tower on a wire rope and whizzes you across the green park!
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Magdeburg: Plan arrival.
Gently and silently you float through the air. Every second of the ride opens up new, fascinating views of the striking landscape down there in the Bodetal Sagenharz - rugged cliffs, green slopes, raging white water, and in the distance the Brocken and the Teufelsmauer. On the 720-meter-long route, the Cable car a difference in altitude of 244 meters. The gondolas, which can hold up to six people, offer a magnificent panoramic view, and the light green-painted cabins even have glass floors. The destination is the Hexentanzplatz, a rocky plateau 454 meters above sea level high above the Bode Valley, which was probably once an ancient Saxon Germanic cult site - today, magical open-air events of all kinds take place here, from opera to musicals, and the fast-paced Harzbob summer toboggan run also beckons.
To the opposite granite rock Rosstrappe (403 meters above sea level) a chairlift glides up, the open two-seaters (half of them with weather protection and bicycle holder) are perfectly suited for romantic hand-holding while the legs dangle in the spicy resin air. At the top, you can learn the story of Brunhilde, the furious Bodo and the mysterious giant horse in the legend pavilion. And you can look forward to other attractions in the adventure world, such as the Bodetal Bike Park or the fun island with water carousel. The witches' cauldron is the place to go for a real family meal - in summer, the witches also conjure up crispy sausages from the charcoal grill on your plate.
By train and bus comfortably to the Bode Valley: Plan arrival.
Probably all children (and adults too) love the cute master builder: the shy, beady-eyed beavers were long thought to be nearly extinct, but have survived in some quiet regions. These include the enchanting Düben Heath Nature Parkwhich extends over an area of 75,000 hectares in the riverine landscapes of the Mulde and Elbe rivers in southeastern Saxony-Anhalt. Here in what is probably the largest contiguous mixed forest area in central Germany is beaver country - young and old explorers are happy about traces such as beaver castles and gnawed trees, and with patience one of the nimble fellows can possibly be discovered.
You can observe Europe's largest rodents with luck, for example, on the Heide-Biber tour, which leads almost 30 kilometers through idyllic forest and heath landscapes from the NaturparkHaus in Bad Düben to the spa park in Bad Schmiedeberg. On the way, the route passes, for example, the village of Tornau with its Stelenweg and wood sculpture square, where the international wood sculpture festival takes place every year in July. Along well-signposted forest paths, the route continues to the old charcoal kiln at the iron hammer, to the nearby beaver observation tower and to the beautiful Reinharz moated castle. At the neighboring Heideteich with its refuge, numerous other wild animals can be observed - so this recreational region is never boring, especially for families with children.
By train and bus comfortably to Bad Düben: Plan arrival.
Candle making, luminous glass processing, binding a booklet out of parchment - kids of elementary school age can do all this and much more at the KinderDomBauhütte. The sacred building, which dates back to the 13th century St. Peter and Paul in Naumburg, a city with 32,000 inhabitants, is one of the most important works of late Romanesque architecture in Saxony-Anhalt and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018. As part of the KinderDomBauhütte, the youngsters first take a close look at the magnificent site, exploring works of art from almost 1,000 years of history. Then the youngsters immerse themselves in the fascinating work of the builders of that time, giving free rein to their creativity, whereby they can make their own workpieces.
There are many offers for different age groups. Under the title "Scents of the Middle Ages," for example, the youngsters learn a lot about the healing power of plants during a herb hunt in the cathedral garden and then fill a personal scent bag. In "Botany in Stone," the kids explore the work of sculptors, making a leaf relief out of gas concrete stone in medieval garb with rasps and files. In the course "Uta von Naumburg. Well-heeled" they are even allowed to help the "most beautiful woman of the Middle Ages" put on new robes - on a dress-up figure they thus become medieval fashion designers!
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Naumburg: Plan arrival.
Cover photo: Welcome to Saxony-Anhalt - ideal destination for the whole family © JenkoAtaman - stock.adobe.com
UNESCO World Heritage, the Brocken in the Harz Mountains and the Garden dreams and historical parks are good reasons for your vacation in Saxony-Anhalt. Even more? Sure! This way:
