The more than 1025-year-old Osterwieck lies in the Ilse Valley between the Großer Fallstein in the north and the Harz Mountains in the south. Magnificent half-timbered houses from the Gothic, Lower Saxon, Renaissance and Baroque periods shape the appearance of the old town. Many of the houses are decorated with beautiful carvings and inscriptions. The oldest house probably dates back to 1480. This unique, coherent half-timbered ensemble of Osterwieck, with more than 400 houses, is considered one of the most valuable in the new federal states and has earned the town the nickname “Pearl of Saxony-Anhalt”.
Also worth seeing is the St. Stephen’s Church, built in the 12th century, with its Romanesque towers measuring 53 and 54 metres high and its 500-year-old Gothic altar shrine. Located on the Romanesque Road, it is now the landmark of the town.
The local museum of Osterwieck offers a comprehensive insight into the history of the town. Housed in the town hall built in 1554, it displays fascinating exhibits from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, as well as remarkable pieces about the various guilds of the town.
The outdoor swimming pool in Osterwieck, open from May to September, promises fun and enjoyment for young and old alike. With its large pool, diving platform and sunbathing area, it fulfils every wish.
With the beautiful landscape around the Großer Fallstein and the Bismarck Tower on Kirchberg, as well as its location on the Green Belt, Osterwieck offers plenty of interesting excursion opportunities for hikers and cyclists.
