Reading political documents you will learn that the spa town of Bad Bodenteich is considered a “Flecken” — which is a nice German way of saying (excuse me, I’m paraphrasing) a town that’s small but yet still somehow significant.
Its “Bad” badge alone makes Bad Bodenteich more than significant, it’s downright fantastically fun. Located within the Lüneburg Heath, it’s a town of around 4,000 people and easily reached by rail, bus, and even boat.
No matter what mode of transportation you use to get here, it’s best you stick around for a few days. Otherwise there’s no other way you’ll be able to fit in all the wonderful things to do around here.
I don’t know about you, but for me it was a stop at Burg Bodenteich, a positively medieval castle that once boasted its own moat. But not only that, the 13th century castle (actually it’s said to be a few hundred years older) is also home to the Tourist Office (Burgstraße 8), which is always the best place to start.
While the castle is its own marvel to explore (there’s even a museum located inside), it also has its own Backhaus (Bakery) and Brauhaus (Brewery) buildings, too. And what else it offers are great cultural events like the Burgspektakel (end of April), its own Christmas Market, and “Robin Hood” experiences for the children.
As much as I like children as the next person, I’d rather have some quiet time at the castle’s Barefoot Trail today. Sorry, Little Ones, a writer’s gotta do what a writer’s gotta do. ;-)
What this writer must do now is finish telling you more about what to see and do here in Bad Bodenteich. The forest areas and meadows make for beautiful scenery as you explore around the 40km of hiking trails, or on one of the Nordic Walking paths. Add in fishing, a carriage horse ride, game of golf or tennis — and you’ve earned yourself a rest.
Oops, not yet. I almost left out the guided tours around town. You can even choose a “theme,” like its medieval history, or its “modern” engineering marvels. Then again, you could always jump on the Entdeckerbus, a hop on/hop off bus running on weekends from June to October to nearby localities. Even better that it’s got a bike trailer attached — just in case you’ve gone farther than you intended.
Being that Bad Bodenteich is a spa town you’ve rightfully earned yourself some relaxing time at the local spa facilities at this point. Surely you wouldn’t want to miss out on some sauna time, or a therapeutic massage?
The only thing I think that could drag me away from that would be for one of Bad Bodenteich’s festivals. June is quite a busy month, hosting the local Community Flea Market, the Schützenfest, and the Brunnenfest. Although, the Erntedankfest in October is worth enjoying, too.
Silly me, I got so wrapped up with the spa stuff, the festivals, and the castle that I left out an honorable mention about the local churches. You can’t miss the St. Petri Church with its 45-meter high tower, and both the Church of St. Bartholomew and Church of St. Michaelis are both from the 14th century. All of them are worth taking home.
With all this going on here in Bad Bodenteich it’s easy to see why it would earn the title of a Flecken, so no wonder it’s flecken fabulous. ;-)
