Belgern: Town Hall, Roland Statue and Historic Buildings

Belgern combines cultural and historical sights with opportunities for outdoor activities. Key features include the town hall, the Roland statue and St. Bartholomew’s Church, as well as cycling tours, signposted hiking trails and boat trips. If you are looking for a hotel in Belgern, it helps to decide first whether you mainly want to explore the town’s architectural history or set aside time for walks and activities on the Elbe.

Town Hall, Roland Statue and City Gates

The town hall was built between 1575 and 1578 in the Renaissance style and has retained its original design. The Belgern Roland is a nearly six-metre-high statue carved from stone in 1610. It symbolizes judicial authority as well as the right to hold markets and mint coins. This landmark is notable both for its appearance and for the significance associated with it.

The Oschatz Gate is the last of Belgern’s four former city gates. The gates were part of the town’s early medieval fortifications. Together with the town hall and Roland statue, it adds to the picture of the town’s architectural history: the focus is not just on individual buildings, but also on former urban institutions and fortifications.

Church, Altar and Town History

St. Bartholomew’s Church was built by Cistercian monks between 1509 and 1512. Its interior features elements of Late Gothic and peasant Baroque design. The Baroque altar dates from 1660 and displays three paintings: the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Deposition from the Cross. These three scenes give the altar a clearly defined iconographic program. The half-weathered stone image of the Nixenkind (water sprite child) is built into the wall beside the church’s main entrance.

The Klosterhof is Belgern’s oldest building and was built in 1258. The Belgern distance column was erected in 1730. Since 2004, the Belgern Town Museum has been housed in the Old Forge building at Topfmarkt 7. The museum tour begins in a fully operational blacksmith’s workshop. Belgern therefore offers several ways to explore the past: buildings throughout the town, details inside the church and a museum tour that starts in a forge.

Cycling Tours, Trails and the Elbe

Cycling options include the International Elbe Cycle Route, routes in the surrounding area and rides through the Dahlen-Belgern Heath. You can also hike on signposted trails and take boat trips on the town’s own yacht. The Mühlentreppen steps lead from the old town down to the Elbe. This gives you several ways to get around as you plan your day: by bike, along a marked hiking trail or by boat, as well as on foot between the old town and the river.

Treblitzsch Landscape Park lies four kilometres south of Belgern, in the district of Treblitzsch. It is a protected park and nature reserve. If you are planning excursions, this gives you a nearby place to visit, while the trails and boat trips offer different activities in Belgern. The Belgern ferry provides a short crossing to Ostelbien and has a long tradition. Check the latest service information before taking the ferry.

More Reasons to Plan a Trip

The Belgern rest area features replicas of Roland statues from other German towns and has a beach volleyball court. So if you are interested in the Roland figure, you can also see representations from other towns there; the site also offers a sporting activity. The Bartholomew Festival is celebrated each year around 24 August in honour of Saint Bartholomew. If you would like to time your trip to coincide with the festival, check the specific event dates.

You can plan your stay around your own interests: historic buildings and church interiors, a museum tour, cycling and hiking trips, a boat ride or an event around the Bartholomew Festival.

Discover more destinations: Neußen, Wohlau, Taucha, Mockrehna, Zschepplin, Bad Düben, Krostitz, Löbnitz.

View the regional travel overview: Northern Saxony.