Situated just to the north of the historic city of Hamelin, Hessisch Oldendorf is an appealing small town on the banks of the Weser River. It lies at the entrance to a region known as Weserbergland, where you’ll marvel at the steep mountain forests, attractive valleys, and the serene waters of the Weser winding its way north.

The town was founded some 750 years ago by the Counts of Schaumburg, and you can still be overwhelmed by its picturesque medieval heart.

Wander amongst the half-timbered buildings, around the old market place, that look so pretty with their floral window boxes. If you look closely, you can spot many buildings with dates indicating their period of construction, many dating back hundreds of years.

Nearby you can see one of the best examples of the Weser Renaissance architecture. The impressive Münchhausenhof is a large stately castle, that is well worth some of your time to visit. Also worth a trip is the thousand-year old Stift Fischbeck or Fischbeck Abbey, with its immaculately preserved Romanesque cloisters.

The monastic tradition of the ladies refuge still carries on to this day, and the women will be happy to talk to you and pass on their knowledge and wisdom.

The Weserbergland nature park covers a vast area to the north of Hessisch Oldendorf, and is a magnet for walkers, hikers, cyclists, and bird watchers. You could spend days here and still only scratch the surface of all there is to see. Come back a few weeks later, and you’ll think you’re in a different place. The colors, smells, and wildlife, change constantly as the seasons come and go. The best way to explore is on foot, but cycle hire will give you the opportunity to see more in a shorter time.

Two natural wonders in particular should be included in your itinerary. Your visit to the breathtaking Schillat Cave will begin with a descent into the earth inside a glass elevator. Once into the cave you will be awestruck by the amazing colors that shimmer around the rock surfaces of the 180 metre long cavern.

Less well known, but no less impressive, is the Langenfeld Waterfall, which until recently was used to power the adjacent 18th Century mill. The waters tumble down into what the locals call Hell Creek.

But this region is far from hellish, and both Hessisch Oldendorf and the surrounding countryside would be much better described as a little bit of heaven.

[mgc_hotel_iframe]

[mgc_hotel_iframe]

Haldensleben, the capital of the Börde district, is a pretty town on the Ohre River, half an hour’s drive northwest from Magdeburg.

It has a long and impressive history, and you’ll discover it still very much retains a quaint, almost timeless charm. That history also plays a big part in the attractions of the town.

Take a trip to see the Bülstringer Torturm, with its dark brick construction and dominating square tower. There’s a good photo exhibition that will give you a good overview of the region’s past without expending a lot of time.

I would also recommend a visit to the School Museum, with its haunting reconstruction of an 18th Century classroom, and the nearby Museum Haldensleben. In the latter you’ll be treated to a special exhibition on the famous Brothers Grimm, plus some well presented artifacts and displays on the historical highlight of the district.

Of course, the museums are no substitute for getting out and seeing places for yourself.

The area between Haldensleben, and the neighboring towns of Bebertal and Hundisburg, is known as the Historische Quadratmeile or Historical Square Mile. More than 80 tombs from the Megalithic Period make this the largest site of its kind in Central Europe. The best way for you to see and understand them is to join one of the regular guided tours, run by the tourist office. On these you’ll also get to see the many other prehistoric relics in the Beber Valley, and the “Devils Kitchen” on the outskirts of the town.

The town itself dates from the early 10th century, and you will still see many of the old medieval buildings. Parts of the city wall are still impressive too, and there is an exhibition with a model of the town in the Bülstringer Gate. The most famous exhibit, however, is the statue of Roland. It is the only one known to exist that depicts the iconic figure in a mounted pose.

Away from the historical theme, you’ll enjoy the attractive swimming complex. With 4 pools, a water slide, and pleasant gardens, it’s a wonderful place to relax and unwind after a busy day exploring. You can also sit and watch the picturesque scenery drift past, on one of the many river cruises available.

The popular nearby tourist route, the Romanesque Route or Straße der Romanik, brings many travelers to Haldensleben, but you shouldn’t just pass it by. It is a delightful town in which to rest, and has plenty of intriguing sights for you to discover.

[mgc_hotel_iframe]

On first impressions this small town just north of Hamburg might appear to be little more than a commuter town. But if you delve a little deeper you’ll quickly find Kaltenkirchen has a history dating back to the 14th Century.

But Kaki, as it’s affectionately known by the locals, is not stuck in the past by any means.

As soon as you arrive you’ll notice the new railway station, and modern shopping center, and all around are new housing developments to keep pace with the growing population.

As well as the obvious excursions into Hamburg, or to the easily reached Baltic and North Sea coasts, Kaltenkirchen has plenty to offer you during your stay.

For example, the Holsten Therme is delightful, and promoted as the Caribbean in the North. With heated indoor and outdoor pools, you can relax under swaying palm trees, plunge down huge water shutes, or just laze in the bubble pool with a cocktail! ;-)

Nearby you can also enjoy a session in the gymnasium, a sauna, or hire a bicycle. It’s a good way to explore the excellent network of marked cycle paths through the surrounding countryside. There are plenty of places to hire cycles, and your hotel will be able to point you in the right direction.

Walking is also popular, and you’ll feel like you’ve been here forever, as the many other walkers you’ll meet will all smile and greet you like an old friend as you pass.

In the early part of World War Two it had a busy airfield, but following the Allied bombing it was destroyed, and later replaced with a concentration camp. Today you can visit the poignant memorial gardens, constructed to remember the 700 who died there.

Although the town is over 900 years old, you won’t find many historic buildings of note. Even those that survived the War have mostly been demolished to make way for new developments. But Kaltenkirchen still has a quaint, homely feel.

You’ll find the large number of inhabitants that have arrived here from other regions (many from the east after World War Two), give it a unique mix of styles. Even the large number of restaurants will offer you a superb array of different cuisine’s from across Germany.

[mgc_hotel_iframe]