Torgau Travel Guide

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This monument right next to the castle was erected to remind on the day in April 1945, when Soviet and American troops met first.
The inscription means: "Here on the Elbe, on April 25, 1945, the forces of the first Ukrainian front of the Red Army linked up with American forces"

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Another permanent exhibition in the castle is the World War Two Exhibition.
What most people do not know is the fact that Torgau is the place where Americans and Soviets met first in World War Two. On April 25, 1945 Sviet and American troops met each other on the bridge right next to the castle and gave a symbolical handshake.

You should take a few hours to visit the changing exhibitions in the castle. Some rooms still have the furnitures of the former times like this hunting room from the 18th century.

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The eastern entrance attracts with the golden ornaments and the coat of arms. In front of the entrance is a stone bridge. Just take a look over the balustrades and see the quite teddy bears. ;-)
The so-called "Torgau Bears" have been in this place sind 1425 - okay, those you see there are not that old but their ancestries had lived here. After the battle of Torgau in 18th century the bears had not been held in this place. As recently as in the 1950s the bears have returned here.

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This castle was built in 15th century and houses today a museum of town's history and of World War Two. This Renaissance building is landmark of Torgau. It is possible to climb the "Hausmannsturmes" to have an excellent overview on castle and town. On a clear day you can view more than 20km over the Elbe valley.