Sitting on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath is Edemissen. If anything, the Heath would give you enough to do around here for quite some time. It just so happens that there’s even more in this town of 14 villages, so be prepared to stay a spell.
With so many little hamlets, you’ll need a little guidance in the “what to see” department. Rietze has a Pilgrims Way for the religious traveler and in Blumenhagen you’ll find reflection “thinking marks,” one dating back to 1534. In keeping with the spiritual, don’t forget Martin Luther Church whose tower dates back over 700 years.
Eickenrode has the Nikolaikirche (St. Nikolai Church) and a working farm, both from the 17th century. Ankensen takes the cake for late 19th century history with examples of the architecture at the manor house and the Backhaus (bake house). The Backhaus is now an administration building for marriage licenses.
That’s the great thing about Lower Saxony, not only does it have great history — it has some great local festivals.
Mardi Gras is a huge deal and the Village Asparagus Festival is a grand delight. Too bad it’s held only every other year. Another festival like that is the Potato Market in the hamlet of Wehnsen. A larger festival is held every two years, but a smaller one (usually last weekend in September) is held on the off-year. I can’t leave out the annual Folk Festival, either.
Break up your sightseeing of Edemissen’s villages with trips into the Lüneburg Heath. This place is big, a whopping 440 square miles of bogs, woodlands, nature protected areas, and rivers. This area is so unique and downright beautiful that visitors from all over come just to see (and smell!) it. Of course, other people have made their mark on the place with six convents within the Heath and tumuli (grave hills) from the Stone and Bronze Ages.
If you came to Edemissen just for the Heath alone, it would be more than worth it. But, with a town that offers so much — it would be wise to give it a chance, too. You’ll be glad you did.
