Location, History and Tourism

Pretzien is located on the northern edge of the glacial valley of the river Elbe where a pasture landscape still exists which is characterized by numerous Old Elbe inshore waters, areas of Elbe meadows woods and groups of undergrowth, areas of arable land used for agricultural purposes and meadows as well as marshlands.
The birch and pine woods around Pretzien and the great number of delightful woodland lakes have created a landscape that has already been a wonderful place for nature lovers, holiday-makers and camping enthusiasts for years.

The locality of Pretzien originated as a Slav settlement.
It was first mentioned in a document in 1151 as "brithzin" - "place beside the birches".
Pretzien won renown as a result of its quarries; quarzite stone was quarried here and shipped over the Elbe as early as the 12th century.
Quarzite stone was also used for building the churches in Plötzky and Pretzien, as well as Havelberg Cathedral and the mole in Hamburg.
Around the year 1900 as many as 1000 ships per year moored in the stone haven (?Steinhafen?).

This former embark point has now become a popular starting point for water and camping tourists.
The former quarries turned into idyllic up to 30 metres deep lakes with emerald green water which permit an interesting view of the visible rock layers under and over the surface of the lake.
Because of that divers who like deciding in favour of Pretzien mention these lakes as a mystic underwater world.

A well-developed network of cycle paths connecting Pretzien also with the localities of Plötzky and Ranies, which are also part of the municipality of Schönebeck (Elbe), as well as with further networks of cycle paths such as on the river Saale, the Magdeburg area etc. provides ideal conditions for varied leisure activities.

For further information please contact:
Pretzien Tourist Information Office
address: Am Park 26, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 76828
emailcontact
opening hours:
May - September
Mon - Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

For more information also see:
http://www.pretzien.de/ (external link)
http://www.blaues-band.de/ (external link)

Pretzien combines physical activity in the unique landscape of the Elbe meadows with opportunities to visit places of cultural and historical interest.  
Special features that are worth visiting are the St. Thomas´s Church in Pretzien which is on the "Romanesque Road" and the more than one-century-old Pretzien Weir, Europe´s greatest gate panel weir, that today is still in operation in danger of flooding.

St. Thomas´s Church - an imposing structure on the "Romanesque Road" 

The one-aisled hall church was constructed in 1140 and ranks as one of the first sacred buildings of stone on the eastern bank of the Elbe.
As the particular valuable Late Romanesque fresco preserved on 94 square metres show the church must have been of national importance.
At the time of Albert the Bear the church was built of quarzite stone by Premonstratensian monks of the Leitzkau monastary.  
Later Albert the Bear gave it as a present to the Magdeburg Monastery of our Lady that had been the Premonstratensian order´s headquarter since 1129.    
Today this historical monument on the "Romanesque Road" gets a lot of visitors.
Because of its excellent acoustics every year the popular Pretzien Music Summer, a sacred and classical music festival, takes place in the St. Thomas´s Church. 

opening hours:
May to September
dayly from 2 to 4 p.m., except Mondays
visits outside the opening hours available upon request
contact: retired parish priest Rüdiger Meussling
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 76 808

For further information also see:
http://www.pretzien.de/ (external link)
http://www.romanikstrasse.de/ (external link)

Pretzien Music Summer

A cultural highlight that attracts all friends of sacred and classical music near and far is the Music Summer in the locality of Pretzien.
This event has been held every year from June to September for more than 35 years.
Several concerts are performed by international artists and take place in the St. Thomas´s Church which is renowned for its excellent acoustics.

The 38th Pretzien Music Summer will be taking place in the period of 2 June to 22 September 2012.

Further information on concerts and tickets are available at:
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 76 808
fax: +49(0)39200/ 76 709
http://www.pretzien.de/ (external link)

Pretzien Weir - a technical monument

The Pretzien Weir is an important technical monument that was constructed together with a 18 kilometres long canal between 1871 and 1875.
It is Europe´s greatest gate panel weir.
Its foundations of sandstone are 162,8 metres long and it has 324 gate panels consisting of pieces of heavy iron.
In 1889 at the Paris world exhibition this imposing structure was awarded gold medal.
Even today the Pretzien Weir fulfils its task to protect the town of Schönebeck and the city of Magdeburg against floods.
After reaching the water level of 5,92 metres at the survey control station of the town of Barby (Elbe) the Pretzien Weir is drawn.

For more information see:
http://www.pretziener-wehr.de/ (external link)

Camping and Caravan

The camping sites "Steinhafen Pretzien" (stone haven - sports boat harbour), "Kolumbussee" (Columbus lake) and "Gisela-/Edersee" (Gisela & Eder lake) are regarded as a personal tip for nature and complete peace.
There is a landing stage for water tourists at the entrance of the small harbour of the camping site "Steinhafen Pretzien".
At the camping sites "Kolumbussee" and "Gisela-/Edersee" holiday bungalows can be hired.

contact:
ELBAUE Naherholungsfördergesellschaft mbH
address: Friedhofsweg 10a, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Plötzky
tel.: +49 (0) 39200/ 51 585
fax: +49 (0) 39200/ 55 882
emailcontact

For more information on further camping sites:
Camping/Caravan >> (link)

Restaurants and Accommodation

Pension und Restaurant "Café Braun"
address: Große Sorge 11, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 53 457
fax: +49(0)39200/ 66 713

Parkhotel Pretzien
address: Am Park 10/11, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 72 30
fax: +49(0)39200/ 55 523
http://www.parkhotel-pretzien.de/ (external link)

Pension "Am Storchennest"
address: Am Park 25, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 53 705
fax: +49(0)39200/ 400 44 
http://www.storchennest-pretzien.de/ (external link)

Mrs Elke Reetz´s Pension
address: Gommernsche Str. 7, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel./fax: +49(0)39200/ 53 629

Culture and Infrastructure

In Pretzien the following cultural and infrastructural facilities are available:

- Sportverein SV Blau-Weiß Pretzien 1897 e.V.
  (sports society)
- Männerchor "Orpheus" Pretzien
  (male-voice choir)
- Landesfanfarenzug Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.
  (trumpeters)
- Feuerwehrförderverein Pretzien e.V.
  (friends of the fire brigade)
- Ortsgruppe der Volkssolidarität e.V.
  (local group of the social relief organisation)
- Evangelischer Frauenhilfeverein St. Thomas
  (protestant women´s assistance St. Thomas)
- Anglerverein Pretzien
  (anglers´society)
- Verein Erholung Pretzien Felsensee e.V.
  (society relaxation rock lake)

Pretzien local office (Ortschaftsbüro Pretzien)
address: August-Bebel-Straße 24, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 51 945
fax: +49(0)39200/ 51 399
or via Citizens´Office of the town of Schönebeck (Elbe)
Tel.: +49(0)3928/ 710 611-613

opening hours:
Monday:   9 - 12 a.m.
Thursday: 9 - 12 a.m. and 1 - 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 - 12 a.m.

child-care centre "Benjamin Blümchen"
address: Dr.-M.-Luther-Str. 1a, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)039200/ 51934
run by: Stadt Schönebeck (Elbe)
emailcontact
number of places: 50
offer: crèche, kindergarten

youth club Pretzien
address: A.-Bebel-Str. 28a, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien
tel.: +49(0)39200/ 
run by: Society "Rückenwind" e.V.

local fire brigade Pretzien
part of the volunteer fire brigade of the Town of Schönebeck (Elbe)
address: A.-Bebel-Str. 24, 39217 Schönebeck (Elbe) OT Pretzien