Stendal, Historic Hanseatic district capital in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Stendal is a district capital in northern Saxony-Anhalt with medieval city gates and brick buildings. The streets run through residential quarters with period façades and wide squares between the old churches.
The settlement received market rights in 1160 from Margrave Albert the Bear and developed into a trading center. Joining the Hanseatic League in 1358 brought coinage rights and economic growth.
The name comes from an old Saxon word meaning stony place and reflects the early medieval landscape. Today you see Gothic church towers rising above the rooftops and hear conversations in broad North German dialect around the market square.
The town center is easy to explore on foot and the main buildings lie close together. From the main train station you reach the old town in a few minutes and find manageable distances there.
French writer Marie-Henri Beyle chose his pen name after this town and created a literary bridge between Germany and France. The connection still surprises visitors from both countries today.
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