Nebra - The Sky Disc and the Fire Department’s 150th Anniversary

Nebra - a place name that dominated the media for weeks and even years due to the nearby discovery site of the famous Sky Disc, yet still sees remarkably few tourists today.

Perhaps that is for the best; the town itself is certainly worth a visit, boasting a long history and numerous highlights—from the Unstrut River (ideal for paddling and hiking) to the "Rad-Acht" (Cycle Figure-Eight) route along the Unstrut-Saale Cycle Path. Not to be overlooked are the many castles and palaces in the surrounding area, which offer wonderful hiking opportunities.

Nebra – A Glimpse into History

First mentioned in documents in 876, Nebra evolved from a Sorbian fishing village into a sought-after location; it was taken over by Frankish landowners around 800 and granted town rights as early as the 12th century. A formidable fortification with four gates once protected the town and its inhabitants; the layout of the old town is still recognizable today in the division between the "Upper Town" and "Lower Town."

Nebra remained in the possession of the Nießmitz family until 1718; they built the adjacent palace using parts of what are now the castle ruins. Rich sandstone deposits brought economic prosperity and stability to this rural town. Many of the townhouses, featuring beautiful doorways, date back to this era.

The Nebra Local History Museum offers a journey through the town's long history. Archaeological finds such as the Nebra Sky Disc and the Nebra Venus figurines are showcased alongside exhibits on the daily lives of craftspeople, housewives, and children. As one of Saxony-Anhalt’s "Women’s Sites" (*Frauenorte*), the museum houses the Hedwig Courts-Mahler Archive, honouring the fascinating life of the writer who was born in Nebra. The terraced outdoor pool located at the Altenburg is one of the most beautiful in the Unstrut Valley; its sports and leisure pools, volleyball courts, tennis facilities, and sandy beach offer just a few of the ways to enjoy active relaxation.

Nebra serves as the gateway to the Saale-Unstrut-Triasland Geo-Nature Park, which spans 103,737 hectares; activities such as cycling along the Unstrut, riding the "Rad-Acht" (a figure-eight cycle route), and paddling on the river are renowned far beyond the region's borders.

Firefighting Museum – for the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the fire department (August 7–9, 2026)

We previously visited this town once the second-smallest district seat in the former GDR during a fire department festival in 2025. On that occasion, we were given a tour of the local firefighting museum, which offered us a fascinating glimpse into the history and technology of firefighting. Now, another celebration is on the horizon: the 150th anniversary of the Nebra Fire Department.

Whether dealing with flooded basements, inundated courtyards and streets, or uprooted trees; stacking sandbags; rescuing someone trapped in a house via inflatable boat; or performing the core task of extinguishing fires the fire department can always be relied upon. The museum vividly showcases the vast array of equipment and tools used in these efforts. During our tour, we learned numerous details about the function of specific pieces of equipment and saw practical examples demonstrated.

Amidst the department's diverse range of duties, one event from recent years repeatedly stood out: the tireless battle against the 2017 floods, during which recovery and rescue operations focused particularly on the nearby village of Zingst. A major fire at the Steigra landfill stood out vividly in our tour guide’s memory, whereas the other fires were relatively minor: three incidents involving bulky waste or dumpsters, a cooking fire near the Oberteich pond, a basement fire in Wetzendorf, and a car fire at the Altenburg. Other call-outs included two traffic accidents, two requests for lifting assistance, door-opening operations, and illuminating a landing zone for rescue helicopters.

The diversity of the fire department's work and the immense importance and appreciation it deserves becomes clear once again when looking at the wide range of tasks they willingly undertake: the department provided safety support for torchlight processions, Easter bonfires, and the "Unstrut in Flames" event. They organized an open house in April, a fire department festival in August, and a barbecue evening in September. They also assisted the Reinsdorf fire department with a project day involving the Nebra all-day school.

There was no mistaking the pride our museum guide felt as he described all these duties all performed voluntarily and requiring a significant investment of time from those involved. How fortunate we are to have them the fire department.

Appreciation and recognition go to the men and women of the Nebra fire department.

Please read as well:

Rusinowo – Few days of relaxation on Baltic Sea beach

Wetter – Half-timbered houses in "Freiheit" and Friedrich Harkort

• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
• Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum Nebra - Open doors at Fire Brigade Museum
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