Der Salzwedeler Baumkuchen

"The Baumkuchen City" – this is how the town of Salzwedel in the Altmark confidently refers to itself. For over 200 years, the "King of Cakes" has been baked here. This regionally popular specialty, served in traditional bakeries and cafés, has shaped the history of Salzwedel and the image of its historic town center to this day. The Baumkuchen is more than just a sweet pastry; it plays a significant role in the city's image and tourism, and it is also important for the identification of the citizens with their city and the people of the Altmark with their region. Salzwedel and the Baumkuchen are inseparable. The success of the cake has significantly influenced the economic and cultural development of the town in the 19th and 20th centuries. Conversely, the rise of the Baumkuchen bakery can only be understood when considering the overall development of Salzwedel. Manfred Lüders presents a comprehensive history of the Salzwedel Baumkuchen bakeries for the first time in his book "The Salzwedel Baumkuchen – Three Centuries of Baker History and Town Events." In it, Lüders traces the history of the beloved cake up to the present, answers the question of who first brought the Baumkuchen to Salzwedel, shares the diverse family stories of the Salzwedel Baumkuchen bakers, and interestingly connects them to the history of the town of Salzwedel.