Townapedia
Zerbst Bartholomäikirche
Zerbst Bartholomäikirche · mazbln, CC BY-SA 3.0
Zerbst,Wasserjette Infotafel
Zerbst,Wasserjette Infotafel · M_H.DE (Foto), Infotafel vom Heimatverein Zerbst, CC BY-SA 3.0
Zerbst,Wasserjette
Zerbst,Wasserjette · M_H.DE, CC BY-SA 3.0
Zerbst (Anhalt), Marktplatz mit Wappenbaum
Zerbst (Anhalt), Marktplatz mit Wappenbaum · M_H.DE, CC BY-SA 4.0
Zerbst,Wappenbaum
Zerbst,Wappenbaum · M_H.DE, CC BY-SA 3.0
Zerbst,Wappenbaum 2
Zerbst,Wappenbaum 2 · M_H.DE, CC BY-SA 3.0

Zerbst, Germany

Zerbst/Anhalt

Zerbst is a town of 21,124 people in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

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Population21,124 GeoNames
Local nameZerbst/Anhalt
Elevation67 m 220 ft
Time zoneEurope/Berlin
Land area468.5 km²
Nearest airportFlugplatz Köthen (KOQ) 29 km

Why visit Zerbst

Townapedia lists 178 museums and landmarks, 40 parks and trails, 89 places to eat, 32 places to stay and 16 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Anhaltisches Theater, Cinema Barby, Schloss Leitzkau and Feuersäule.

About Zerbst

Zerbst (German pronunciation: [ˈtsɛʁpst] ) is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until an administrative reform in 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the former Anhalt-Zerbst district.

From the Wikipedia article Zerbst (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do16

Anhaltisches Theater

Cinema and theater · 17.7 km

Theatre and opera house in Dessau, Germany

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Cinema Barby

Cinema and theater · 13.8 km

8 Goethestraße, Barby

"öffnungszeiten zu Veranstaltungen: www.cinema-barby.de"

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Galgenberg

Scenic view · 10.1 km

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Gartenbau Wallwitz

Farm and orchard · 1.9 km

92 Magdeburger Straße, Zerbst/Anhalt

Mo-Fr 08:30-18:00, Sa 08:00-12:00

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Hofladen Bauer Weiß

Farm and orchard

53 Breite, Zerbst/Anhalt

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Spitzberg

Scenic view · 8.2 km

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Blick zum Hafen

Scenic view · 12.4 km

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Galgenberg

Scenic view · 12.9 km

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Möllberg

Scenic view · 11.6 km

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Rabenberg

Scenic view · 13.5 km

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Sandberge

Scenic view · 14.8 km

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Scharfenberg

Scenic view · 13.6 km

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4 more on the map.

Museums and landmarks178

Schloss Leitzkau

Monument and historic site · 14.2 km

4 Am Schloß, Gommern

Tu-Th 09:00-13:00; Fr 12:00-16:00; "Schlossführungen März-Oktober,...

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +49 39241 4168

Feuersäule

Monument and historic site · 1.9 km

Das Denkmal wurde errichtet 1913 zur 100-jährigen Wiederkehr der Völkerschlacht bei Leipzig

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Gefallenendenkmal

Monument and historic site · 15.0 km

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Dessauer Torturm

Monument and historic site · 12.6 km

33 Dessauer Straße, Aken (Elbe)

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Kiekinpott

Monument and historic site

Mittelalterlicher Wehrturm

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Wasserturm Aken

Monument and historic site · 13.5 km

Wasserturm, Am Wasserturm in Aken

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Bauhaus Dessau

Museum · 17.1 km

Building complex in Dessau, Germany

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Bauhaus Dessau Foundation

Museum · 17.0 km

German foundation

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Burgtorturm

Monument and historic site · 12.7 km

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Dicker Turm

Monument and historic site

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Gefallenendenkmal I. und II. Weltkrieg

Monument and historic site · 13.7 km

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Kapelle Dobritz

Monument and historic site · 11.6 km

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166 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds40

Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm

Park · 17.6 km

Cultural landscape

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Georgium

Park · 16.8 km

Castle and sculpture garden in Dessau, Germany

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Tierpark Dessau

Park · 16.7 km

German Zoo

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Buchholz

Hiking and trails · 13.7 km

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Diebziger Busch

Hiking and trails · 14.7 km

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Dornburger Mosaik

Hiking and trails · 14.7 km

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Jütrichauer Busch

Hiking and trails · 4.0 km

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Kühnauer Park

Park · 14.7 km

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Mittelelbe zwischen Mulde und Saale

Hiking and trails · 8.6 km

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Nedlitzer Niederung

Hiking and trails · 13.0 km

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Osterwesten

Hiking and trails · 5.7 km

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28 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes89

Am Schloßgarten

Restaurant · Italian · 14.5 km

19 Am Schloßgarten, Dessau-Roßlau

Mo off; Tu-Sa 17:00-22:00; Su 11:30-14:00, 17:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 34901 84033

Athos

Restaurant · Greek · 13.4 km

44 Köthener Chaussee, Aken (Elbe)

Tu-Su,PH 11:30-14:30, 17:30-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 34909 39825

Elbterassen Brambach

Restaurant · German · 11.0 km

2 An der Elbe, Dessau-Roßlau

Mo 15:00+; Tu-Fr 12:00+; Sa-Su 11:30+; PH 11:30+; Dec 24 off; Dec...

Open in Google Maps · +49 34901 82675

Gasthof zum Rautenkranz

Restaurant · Regional · 13.7 km

29 Schloßstraße, Barby

Mo off; Tu-Sa 11:00-14:00,17:00-22:00; Su 10:00-14:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 39298 3396

Taverna Zorbas

Restaurant · Greek · 14.3 km

43a Brambacher Straße, Dessau-Roßlau

Mo off; Tu-Th 17:30-23:30; Fr-Su,PH 11:30-14:30,17:30-23:30

Open in Google Maps · +49 340 6611333

Bäckerei Schwarz

Bakery · 14.2 km

1c Wilhelmsweg, Barby

Mo-Sa 06:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 39298 299110

Gaststätte "Zur Biethe"

Restaurant · 13.3 km

40 Clara-Zetkin-Straße, Dessau-Roßlau

Tu-Sa 17:00-22:00; Su 11:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 34901 82320

Grüner Anker

Restaurant · Regional · 13.6 km

Mo-Su 11:00-14:00,17:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 39298 299043

Eiscafe Palermo

Cafe · Ice Cream · 14.0 km

24 Hauptstraße, Dessau-Roßlau

Mo-Fr 10:00-21:00; Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +49 34901 95339

Heinrich´s

Cafe · 10.1 km

Fr 18:00+; Sa 15:00+; Su,PH 12:00+

Open in Google Maps · +49 39247 949290

Hotel & Restaurant "Treff am Schloß"

Restaurant · German · 14.0 km

44 Alter Weg, Gommern

Open in Google Maps · +49 39241 58998

Parkrestaurant Vogelherd

Restaurant · International · 3.4 km

78 Lindauer Straße, Zerbst/Anhalt

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77 more on the map.

History

In the 8th century the area east of the Elbe was settled by Polabian Slavs (Lusatian Serbs), and the city was named Serbst after them, which evolved into Zerbst. Part of the border region with the adjacent Saxon region around Magdeburg in the west, it was incorporated into the Gau Ciervisti of the Saxon Eastern March (Marca Geronis) about 937 in the course of the German Ostsiedlung.

It is not clear when Zerbst was founded; however, the name Ciervisti mentioned as early as 949 may already refer to a fortified Slavic settlement. The chronicles by Prince-Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg recorded the first mention of a town as Zirwisti urbs in 1018, giving an account of the occupation by the Polish duke Bolesław I Chrobry during the German–Polish War with King Henry II in 1007. In the early 12th century the Ascanian ruler Albert the Bear had the fortress rebuilt, and the adjacent settlement was first fortified with town walls about 1250.

In 1307 Prince Albert I of Anhalt acquired the city of Zerbst from the Barby comital family, starting a centuries-long rule by the Ascanian princely House of Anhalt. His descendants continued to rule the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst until in 1396 it was divided between Prince Sigismund I and his brother Albert IV, and the residence was moved to Dessau.

In 1375 Zerbster Bitterbier was first mentioned; by the Middle Ages the town had 600 breweries.

From the History section of Zerbst on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay32

Churches and places of worship54

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Shopping29

Gas and EV charging12

Schools, colleges and libraries14

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Healthcare13

Map of Zerbst

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Flugplatz Köthen (KOQ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 km away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 8, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.