Gentle-Biese-Aland-Tour // River landscapes in the Altmark

Short description

The Mild-Biese-Aland Tour

Along the blue ribbon of the Mild-Biese-Aland rivers, this bicycle tour guides through the heart of Altmark from the source of the Mild in Letzlingen with its hunting lodge to the Elbe Cycle Path.

Description

The Mild-Biese-Aland river shapes the landscape of the central Altmark. The Altmark round course is diagonally divided by the cycle path and a direct connection is created from the climatic health resort Arendsee in the north, passing through the state-recognized recreational area of Kalbe (Milde) and the Hanseatic city of Gardelegen, to the heath village of Letzlingen in the south.

The tour consists of 4 stages on paved field, forest, and meadow paths of various textures. Asphalt or track plates, sandy agricultural paths, quiet roads are mostly easy to ride. 

The cycling route offers tranquility and enables interesting nature observations, for example, avocets and lapwings are native here. In autumn and spring, one can admire large flocks of migratory birds. The Altmark is also an ancient cultural landscape with Romanesque fieldstone churches from the 12th/13th century, Romanesque and Gothic brick churches and monasteries, old castles and manor houses, as well as a hunting lodge of the Hohenzollern.

From the fine sandy beach, from the Arendseer Höhe, a sandy pine heath, down into lush green meadows in the Biese Valley, then over the highest elevation of the landscape, the ground moraine of the Dolchauer Berg (94 m), down again into the bird sanctuary (SPA) on the Mildewiesen near Vienau, through pine heath and fertile arable areas to the forests of the Letzlinger Heide, the Mild-Biese-Aland Tour runs. On the outskirts of Letzlingen, this river with three names originates: Mild-Biese-Aland. The river valley was once a kilometer-wide drainage area for the glacial meltwater, so the unity of these watercourses was only recognized late, hence: Mild-Biese-Aland. 

In Arendsee and Kalbe, the Romanesque Road is intersected, in Arendsee and Gardelegen the Altmark round course and the route of Garden Dreams in Gardelegen. A number of riding stables invite you to engage in sports activities. In Kalbe, the MEDIAN Clinic offers rehabilitation.

Through the Mild-Biese-Aland Tour, the Altmark round course is divided from north to south and the central Altmark is opened up for cyclists.

Route description

Stage suggestions:

Stage 1: 20 km

Heath village Letzlingen-Hanseatic city Gardelegen

The castle church and former Hohenzollern castle in the heath village Letzlingen are a dignified start for this cycling tour through beautiful nature, but also past castles, manor houses, and enchanting village churches. The actual starting point is north of the village, in a meadow where the Mild first emerges as a marshy pool. From there, head towards Polvitz on sandy field paths through vast pine forests, past Neue Mühle, Hoppenmühle, and Drögemühle, all once powered by Mild water. In Ziepel, you can refresh yourself at the artesian village well and then follow the Mild towards the Hanseatic city of Gardelegen. A longer stop is worthwhile here. The historic city center, the old ramparts (Garden Dreams Saxony-Anhalt), town hall with Roland, and the former Lion Pharmacy with gallery floor and tourist information are worth a visit.

Bus route 100 Letzlingen-Gardelegen-Kalbe-Salzwedel

Stage 2: 15 km

Hanseatic city Gardelegen-state-recognized recreational area Kalbe (Milde)

Heading towards Stendal and from the roundabout towards Bismark, you leave Gardelegen to turn onto a small country road towards Lüffingen opposite the last exit onto the bypass (Wolfsburg). The romantic fieldstone church stands on the highest point of the village. Visits are possible by appointment.

From here, continue via Schenkenhorst, a small, typical Altmark village from the 15th century (The neo-Gothic church and the manor house of the Alvensleben family are worth seeing) to Kalbe (Milde).

Just before the town, you cross a centuries-old hydraulic engineering monument with a weir, culvert, overflow channel, and ford. The recreational area Kalbe (Milde) has a beautiful old town with a Romanesque/Baroque fieldstone church. 3 small old streets form the Pottkuchen. Many footbridges cross the small river Mild. Kalbe is the city of 100 bridges. A beautiful Kurpark with a water treading facility and a large boxwood garden, the water castle ruins with the castle and local museum Altes Wachhaus are worth a longer walk. The town was mentioned in an old chronicle as far back as 983. The modern development into a place of health care began with the MEDIAN Clinic.

Bus route 100 Letzlingen-Gardelegen-Kalbe-Salzwedel

Cycling rest points:
Eis-Café Piccolo, Stendaler Str. 30: Tel. 039080-72931
Café Friedenseck, Stendaler Str. 28, Tel. 039080-38840
Landhotel zum Pottkuchen, Marktstr. 9: Tel. 039080-95390

Stage 3: 17 km

State-recognized recreational area Kalbe (Milde) - Vienau - Brunau

The cycle path leaves Kalbe towards the northeast with the Mild. It crosses the site of the former Navy radio station Goliath (1942-1945). Shortly thereafter, it passes through a large bird sanctuary of European rank until Mehrin. Breeding birds include the Great Avocet, migratory birds and winter guests rest here. There is a good view from the observation platform. From the summit of the Dolchauer Berg (94 m), there is a beautiful panoramic view. The tour now runs on the edge of the ground moraine Kalbescher Werder. After a short, sandy stretch, Brunau is reached. St. Martin with its two very different towers is remarkable.

Bus route 500 (partially on-demand bus) Kalbe-Brunau-Fleetmark-Salzwedel

Stage 4: 40 km
Brunau - Gladigau - Krumke - Osterburg - Seehausen - Beuster

Opposite the fieldstone church in Gladigau stands a baroque rectory (18th century) with a beautiful rectory garden and old bakehouse. From here, continue via Rossau, Klein Rossau, Billerbeck, Zedau, and Krumke (Garden Dreams Park, Kavaliershaus-Café) to Osterburg. In Osterburg, on hot days, you can cool off at the Biesebad (one of the last operated river baths in Europe, completely renovated in 2014/2015, catering in the bath directly or in the nearby Biesecafé, boat rental and camping possible) before continuing towards Seehausen.

Coming from Osterburg on the Altmark round course next to the B189 to the exit to Drüsedau via Seehausen and further to Beuster with a connection to the Elbe Cycle Path and Altmark round course. Alternatively, you can cycle from Barsberge to Seehausen. The alternative route via Barsberge is an unpaved path.

In addition to the Romanesque St. Petri Church, in Seehausen you will also find the Tower Clock Museum with its various functional tower clockworks, the museum courtyard with the cobblers shop and an exhibition of historically valuable machines. Also of historical significance is the Beustertor, a late Gothic brick tower with a passage from the 15th century. You can cool off in the forest pool. The route continues to Beuster, a small idyllic village located directly behind the Elbe dike, on the Old Elbe. Worth seeing here are the Romanesque collegiate church of St. Nicolaus and the Blue Light Museum with an extensive collection of historical technology, an old forge, very old agricultural machinery, and an old consumer cooperative from GDR times with original products.

Between Seehausen and Arendsee and vice versa, the Bus route 200 operates. The buses are equipped with bike racks for 3 to a maximum of 8 bicycles and operate every two hours.

Further information

Tourist information and information points along the route

City Information Hanseatic City Seehausen: Arendseer Str. 6, 39615 Hanseatic City Seehausen, Tel/Fax 039386 54783/-54783 www.stadt-seehausen.de, info@stadt-seehausen.de

Tourist Information Hanseatic City Osterburg: Großer Markt 15 39606 Hanseatic City Osterburg, Tel/Fax 03937 895012/ -895013 www.osterburg.de, stadtinfo@osterburg.de

Tourist Information Kalbe (Milde): Schulstraße 11, 39624 Kalbe (Milde), Tel/Fax 039080 97122/ -80098 www.stadt-kalbe-milde.de, touristinfo@stadt-kalbe-milde.de

Tourist Information Hanseatic City Gardelegen: Rathausplatz 10, 39638 Hanseatic City Gardelegen, Tel/Fax 03907 42266 www.gardelegen.de, touristinfo@gardelegen.de

City Bismark: Breite Straße 11, 39629 Bismark, Tel/ Fax 039089 97611/-2137, www.stadt-bismark.de, touristinfo@stadt-bismark.de

Parking information