Altes Land, a German region stretching along the Elbe river between Hamburg, Buxtehude, and Stade, is particularly beautiful in spring, when the scent of apple, pear and cherry blossoms fill the air and the orchards are a mass of pastel hues.

If visiting during the first week of May you can get to join in the festivities of the Blossom festival. The celebration is held in the town of Jork, and there is much eating, drinking and revelry once the Blossom queen has been crowned.

A popular way to explore Altes Land is by getting a map from one of the local stores and following the many well maintained paths that run along the dykes. Suitable for walking, cycling or in-line skating, the paths will take you through fruit orchards, past historic farmhouses and through the streets of several small towns and villages. There are well maintained parks and benches along the way where you can stop and enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch.

Something to note is that the main ferry lines tend to get congested in spring and summer with all the cyclists. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, you may want to make an early start on your explorations or simply follow one of the more indirect routes. If you would like to make it a multi-day visit there are many traditional and modern guesthouses offering comfortable accommodation complimented with delicious traditional German cooking.

During your explorations you may see several aircraft of different sizes doing test runs overhead. This is because Altes Land is home to one of the larger Airbus manufacturing plants. Some of the cycle paths take you right past the entrance where you can see several of these impressive planes lined up on the runway!

If cycling or walking is not your cup of tea and you’d prefer a more relaxed visit, you can board one of the many slow boat cruises. It’s fascinating to watch the many bridges open and close as they allow the river traffic to pass through. A typical tour runs from Hamburg all the way to Buxtehude and offers beautiful scenery with quaint houses lining the shore.

There are few areas in Northern Germany that showcase traditional rural architecture as well as the Altes Land region. Like something out of a fairytale, you almost expect Hansel and Gretel to come skipping down the lane. Many of the buildings have ornately decorated gates, or symbols inviting prosperity, protection or fertility inscribed on the doors. Much of the rich Saxon heritage is reflected in the style and design of these historic homes.

Typical landmarks of the area are the pretty small white bridges and numerous traditional windmills that tower above the fields and orchards.

If you’d like to gain a bit of education whilst on tour, guided cultural tours of the villages and museums are hosted by traditionally dressed tour guides. For something a little different, you can sign up for an apple diploma at one of the many fruit farms in the area. The local farmers take great pride in showing you around the orchards and telling you all about their traditional methods for cultivating and picking the different fruit varieties.

All in all, the Altes Land region offers a wonderful country escape. Romanced by the beautiful scenery, whether you stay for a day or a month, you can be sure to return home feeling relaxed and refreshed by your countryside experience.

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Kaiserstuhl Map

Kaiserstuhl, literally translated it means Emperor’s Chair, is a hilly region northwest of Freiburg. One of its greatest attractions is its beautiful vineyards. Locals will proudly tell you that the vines are some of the oldest in Europe. They believe the vineyards originate from plants brought across the Mediterranean from Mesopotamia in ancient bible times.

The rich fertile soil of the Rhine valley has indeed produced many award winning wines. If you enjoy wine then take a day or two to visit many of the small cellars for wine tasting. Many of the winemakers are also the farmers and they will happily share with you the history of their wines.

The railways are a great way to explore the area. The train timetables are designed in such a way that you almost have to stop en route for wine tasting. It’s a relaxed and enjoyable way to explore the region. For a special treat you can board a vintage steam train that will take you through Kaiserstuhl’s scenic vineyards. For a round trip you can return on a leisurely cruise boat down river.

Of course if you prefer, you can simply opt for a leisurely boat cruise down the Rhine. Operating throughout the summer season this is a great way to take in the beautiful scenery of the region.

Bicycling is a popular way to explore the many quaint towns and villages as well as the countryside. There are several routes that have been designed around specific cultural interests. Maps are available so you can easily plan which route you would like to follow. Stop for a steaming cup of coffee at a roadside café and watch local town life unfold before you.

It is also possible to do a multi-day tour combining cycling and hiking routes. String several of the themed routes together or take an escorted and guided tour of the area.

Getting out from the towns and cities there are many hiking trails which form a network across the countryside. The tall trees of the majestic Black Forest provide welcome shade as you explore the forests.

The Kaiserstuhl has species of wild orchid that can be found in the countryside. Several of the hiking trails follow routes that specifically seek out these beautiful flowers.

The Nature center in the Black Forest offers guided walks. In this way you can learn all about the area without having to scan the pages of your guide book. It’s not only the flora that’s of interest, the legendary emerald lizard and many species of birds can also be seen on your explorations.

For something a little different, you can take a guided canoe trip down the Altrhein. Following the tributaries as you wind your way through the forest undergrowth you can watch the many birds as they flit between the trees. Fishermen can also enjoy some good angling along the river banks.

There is no lack of places of cultural interest in Kaiserstuhl. The historic towns of Endingen, Wyhl, Vogtsburg, and Breisach make for interesting meandering. Magnificent old buildings and a detailed history will keep you entertained in tales of Kings and Emperors from yesteryear.

For a bird’s eye view of the Kaiserstuhl you can view the magnificent forests, vineyards and meandering rivers from a 1920’s bi-plane or a hot air balloon. Sailing above the landscapes it is a great way to end a tour of this area.

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Running along the banks of the Elbe River in Lower Saxony, Drawehn is a forested nature park that invites exploration.

You can enjoy a variety of walks in the forest with views over the glacial plains that reach down to the Elbe. In fact there are more than 550 km of hiking trails. You can also enjoy a picnic in the beautiful woodlands as part of your explorations.

The Elb dyke that protects the fertile plains below offers great views of the area from its summit. The landscape is characterized by a distinct difference in height of the wide glacial valley and the Drawehn. In some places this altitude difference is as much as 70 meters which makes for dramatic scenery.

The largest network of trails available is for horse riding. Able to blend in with nature it may be your favorite way of exploring the park. You will need to have some level of riding experience to enjoy the longer trails, though. But even if you are a novice you can do a shorter day trip and will be able to experience the wonders of the forest.

For cyclists there are 966 km of cycling routes within the nature park. You can either join a guided tour or can explore on your own with the help of a map. If setting out on your own, make sure that you are properly equipped. On you explorations you will need to keep an eye out for deer and other local wildlife, but any encounters that you may have are sure to be memorable.

In-line skating is also popular. You can explore the area by following the many bike paths. However, if you prefer the comfort of a vehicle there are also bus tours available. In season there are special lectures given by the park’s officials. Two examples of these relate to the deer rutting season and the varieties of mushroom found in the park.

At the northeastern foothills of the Drawehn is the Archaeological Center in Hitzacker. Opened in 1990, it is an open-air archaeological museum which lies on the shores of Hitzacker Lake. Here an archeological site was discovered with artifacts which dated back to the Neolithic and early Middle Ages.

The museum’s main focus is on the Bronze Age. You can explore a reconstructed pit house and long house and get an insight into how people may have lived and gone about their daily tasks more than 3,000 years ago.

Also nearby is the Elbschloss Bleckede, a magnificent castle that has been turned into an environmental research and exhibition center. Far from the stuffy boring types of museums the Elbschloss has interactive displays for both adults and children that will give you some entertaining insight into the nearby nature reserves and parks.

For a unique cultural experience you can visit the Rundlingsmuseum in the area. An interactive life-size museum, it showcases traditional life going back almost 200 years. There are special interest stations which have demonstrations according to different themes. Festivals and events are held regularly in season and are very entertaining.

You can arrive here by boat, car or bus and it is easily accessible from Hamburg, Hanover or Berlin. As part of the Altmark region, the Drawehn Nature Park is a place where you can spend some time relaxing and simply enjoy nature.

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