Explore the Hanseatic city Havelberg

At the time of the Hanse the prosperity of Havelberg was based on craftsmanship, fishing and the trade in wood. The cereal trade of the Havelberg merchants with Hamburg has been documented for as early as 1358.
The fishing guilds, for instance, had extensive privileges, which meant that they were able to sell their crayfish and fish on the markets between Hamburg and Berlin.

Havelberg was mentioned in the Rostock list as being a member of the Hanse from the very start. Its favourable location between the Elbe and the Havel meant that shipbuilding developed at a very early stage. Ships intended for sea voyages were constructed in Havelberg in the seventeenth century. In 1716 Czar Peter the Great and Friedrich Wilhelm I met here for negotiations.

Some historical facts of Havelberg

Havelberg ist probably the oldest Christian town that lies east of the Elbe. It has already been designated as “ town” in the charter of foundation of Otto I. The bishops of Havelberg and Brandenburg were expelled during the laves` rebellion. The Ascanians conquered this territory and got it back. Since 1148 Havelberg had become a starting-point of Christianization of wich had been the economic Centre of the “ Prignitz”, was replaced by the town Perleberg. But nevertheless Havelberg remained the residence of a bishop till reformation. These bishops were often richer and had more influence than those of Brandenburg. Today we have got many vestiges of the great past, for example the medieval town of the island with the impressive cathedral on the built in the 12^th century, the monastery wichdates back to the 12^th to 14^th century.

Pictures of the Hanseatic City of Havelberg