There are two definites in this world… A) our beloved sun goes up and down, day in and day out, and B) Lower Saxony has some really cool towns, as in the case of Apen.
You might not have ever heard about this little town between Oldenburg and the North Sea, but you will now. The funniest part about Apen is that it has ten local municipalities and three of them are named Augustfehn.
Yeah, confusing right? But, they are appropriately named Augustfehn I, Augustfehn II, and Augustfehn III. As with most of Germany, don’t ask — just enjoy it for what they are. ;-)
Another thing that’s a given within Lower Saxony (and in Apen in this case) is that you’ll be able to eat some really (really REALLY) good food. Apen is home to ham manufacturing and there’s a museum that will teach you all about how they smoke it.
Sorry vegetarians, I don’t think this is your kind of place. You may just have to visit some of the other sites around town instead.
Apen has an ironworks place to visit, as well as the fantastic 15th century church of St. Nicolai. There’s even an old windmill known as the Hengstforde Windmühle; found in the village of Hengstforde (ha!).
As in the question of what came first the chicken or the egg, ask yourself will you work up an appetite for some of that local ham by riding through the countryside and swimming in the municipal lake? Or, will you have to work off all those calories after you’ve eaten?
Ah, this is a vacation — who cares about calories!
Eat more at Apen’s Harvest Festival, or during the Village Celebration in Augustfehn. Ha-ha, which one? All three have a village celebration! Just as the town has an Autumn Market, a Farmers Market, an Oktoberfest (that one always includes drinking — not just eating), and a couple more.
Of course, all that eating and partying makes you tired, so why not enjoy camping for a few nights. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy Apen for what it is!
