How many of you out there have a brother or sister (cousin, neighbor, whatever) that always seems to outshine you? Oh, you know the types — the ones who are the star quarterback or the popular cheerleader.
When I came across Großhansdorf in the Stormarn District, I instantly thought this was a town overshadowed by its closest neighbor, Ahrensburg.
I mean this town doesn’t even have many hotels for crying out loud. Does that mean you shouldn’t come here? No, I didn’t say all that.
Großhansdorf, or Groothansdörp in Low German, is where you’ll come for some wonderful theatrical performances. Their theater season runs the gamut from Madame Butterfly (performed even at the Children’s Theater), to plays like Frost/Nixon, right down to cabaret. So what if you can’t find a guesthouse here, you got Puccini!
And you might forgive no overnight accommodation if you can see a castle, right? Well, you’ll find one in nearby Ahrensburg. A beautiful 16th century Renaissance one to be exact. It’s now a museum; and the original castle was modeled after Schloss Glücksburg (of Glücksburg fame), if it looks a bit familiar to you.
While you’re off exploring the North German region, look around. You’ll find an early 19th century Jewish Cemetery (used up until the 1930’s), a Natural History Museum, and two churches (the Christuskirche and the Evangelical Lutheran Schmalenbeck).
You’ll also find a golf course. The Golf Club Ahrensburg-Hamburg is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Northern Germany; and for you avid golfers there are numerous water hazards and bunkers to put some challenge to your game.
OK, so you don’t have much choices for spending the night here in Großhansdorf. And most of the sightseeing in the tourist sense is found just about 3km away. But, if you want the very best of theater and a look into the regular everyday life up here in Northern Germany; Großhansdorf may just be it.