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Tangermünde is situated at an altitude of 43 m at the edge of the Altmark region of Saxony-Anhalt, where the river Tanger flows into the river Elbe, southeast of the district town Stendal.

The oldest written mention of Tangermünde is found in a document of 1009; the oldest mention of the status as a town dates from 1276. Due to its location on a rock at the river bank, Tangermünde became an important customs place and a residence of the margraves of Brandenburg. In the 14th century Tangermünde temporarily was a favourite place of residence of Emperor Karl IV. Upon a resurrection of the town in 1488, Elector Johann Cicero of Brandenburg transfered his seat to Berlin. In 1617 the town was destroyed by a large fire which was blamed on the orphan Grete Minde; this inspired the famous German poet Theodor Fontane to write his novel 'Grete Minde. Nach einer altmärkischen Chronik' which was published first in 1880. Today, Tangermünde is well-known for its almost entirely preserved city wall with foritified gates, the castle complex and numerous historic buildings.

The town hall of Tangermünde is one of the best preserved and most beautiful buildings of the late Gothic period in Germany. The oldest part of the building, built in 1430, is the east wing with its monumental façade (height 24 m) and the ceremonial hall. The access balcony was added in 1846 by the famous architect Friedrich August Stüler. Underneath the town hall there is an extensive system of vaults, which, like the town hall, was created in the 15th century.