today it is used for exhibitions and concerts. In the Middle Ages, the hospital was outside the town, which was surrounded by moats and walls, as people with infectious diseases were treated there. Originally, Gardelegen had three gates when it was surrounded by a medieval town wall. Salzwedel Gate dating from 1565 is a well-preserved gate in the north, a part of Stendal Gate is left in the southeast but Magdeburg Gate in the southwest was demolished completely. St. Nicolai Church dating from the 14th century was heavily damaged by bombs on 15 March 1945. The nave is still in ruins, and the tower was renovated. There are plans to transform the nave into a concert hall. St. Spiritus is a renaissance building dating from 1591 which belonged to a monastery that was mentioned for the first time in 1319. It was a hospital where sick and elderly people were looked after. St. Mary's Church was built around 1200 in a romantic style with five naves and enlarged in the 14th century, and the Town Hall is an impressive baroque structure which was built from 1526-1522. Gallery Twin towns – sister cities Gardelegen is twinned with: Darłowo, Poland Gifhorn, Germany Waltrop, Germany Notable people Christian Francken (1550–1611), Jesuit and Unitarian theologian Joachim Lange (1670–1744), theologian Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683–1741), chemist and botanist Christoph August Tiedge (1752–1841), poet Otto Reutter (1870–1931), comedian, singer and actor Werner Preuss (1884–1919), officer Christa Stubnick (1933–2021), sprinter Raymond Hecht (born 1968), javelin thrower Associated with the town Richard Sonnenfeldt (1923–2009), American engineer and author, grew up in Gardelegen Helmut Sonnenfeldt (1926–2012), American government official, grew up in Gardelegen References External links Towns in Saxony-Anhalt Altmarkkreis Salzwedel Members of the Hanseatic League