Genthin (Germany Saxony-Anhalt)

Genthin is an Elbe River cruise port and town in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state (Landkreis Jerichower Land district) with population around 15,000. The town is located on the Elbe-Havel Canal (length 56 km) between Magdeburg (Elbe River) and Brandenburg (Havel River). Genthin is approx 50 km (31 mi) from Magdeburg and approx 27 km (17 mi) from Brandenburg.

The settlement was first mentioned in the mid-12th-century, being built as a village surrounding the Plotho Castle. By the mid-16th-century it developed into a town and was first mentioned as Brandenburg in 1539. In the late-17th-century it suffered major two devastations - a plague epidemic (1682-83) and fire (1704). In 1743-45 was built the 15-km long Plauescher Kanal (first part of Elbe-Havel Canal) which connected Plaue/Brandenburg) with Stemme River (Havel's tributary) and Ihle River (Elbe's tributary). Both rivers were also expanded to allow commercial shipping as the new canal shortened the travel distance between Berlin and Magdeburg by 150 km (30 mi).

Town's best-known tourist attractions and landmarks include Kreismuseum Jerichower Land (County Museum themed on region's history), Sankt Trinitatis Kirche (18th-century church), Parchen Castle (19th-century), Wasserturm Genthin (20th-century, 48-m-high octagonal water tower), Synagogue, Dorfkirche Altenplathow (20th-century Romanesque church), Fiener Bruch (nature park). Since 2017, Elbe-Havel-Radweg (Cycle Route) connects Magdeburg with Berlin and runs along Genthin's portion of Elbe-Havel Canal.

As cruise port, Genthin was included in the 2019 schedules of some of Europe's largest river cruise companies, including CroisiEurope and Phoenix Reisen. Next tables show some of the aa-inclusive itineraries as riverport sequences and lowest prices per person (double occupancy).

(ships Elbe Princesse, Elbe Princesse 2, Victor Hugo / CroisiEurope) 8-day itinerary between homeports Prague and Berlin-Tegel, prices from ~USD 2100 pp

(ship Saxonia / Phoenix Reisen) 12-day itinerary from homeport Potsdam, prices from ~USD 2400 pp