I have some non-German friends that like to make fun of me for some of the “stereotypical” traits that us Germans are known for. Yes, I like being prompt and I believe in working and playing hard.
We’re also the sort that likes our sports and culture clubs; and in the town of Barleben there sure are lots of them.
If you’re not familiar with all things German, you have to understand that we like sports and all things cultural. You know, activities that get the muscles moving, blood pumping, and the grey matter (yeah, your brain) functioning.
Good thing there are plenty of hiking and biking trails through the countryside to support my theory of us liking our sporting activities.
Then you’ve got swimming at Jersleber See (with a campground alongside) and the Barleber See also has swimming and camping.
Oh goodness, I’m starting to sound like a commercial for… a health club or MENSA. Yikes!
To be totally honest, there’s not too much sightseeing to do in this tiny town to the north of Magdeburg. So, its residents and visitors got to do something, right?
If you’ve never been to Barleben your first stop should be the Church of Saints Peter & Paul. This Evangelical Church dates back to the mid-14th century and has Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements. As morbid as it sounds, the church has some really (really, really) old gravestones. They too tell the story of how old this church really is.
In a different cemetery (the Old Cemetery) is a mass grave for 10 French inmates who died in 1945 on a death march from the Dora-Mittelbau Concentration Camp. At the New Cemetery is the grave of a Hungarian inmate who died along the same death march.
Sorry, there’s no castle in Barleben. But, if you really got to see one Castle Hundisburg is a good choice (it’s part medieval, part Baroque) — and nearby.
Hmm, I guess I was wrong — there is plenty of stuff to do in Barleben. But, I’m not wrong about all things German. Trust me, I am one! ;-)
