On a quest to learn more about Germany’s “Sustainable Tourism,” I found Lower Saxony is one of the best places for this kind of thing — kind of making it my newest favorite place in Germany. That sentiment is further enhanced by towns like Kutenholz (excuse me, in Low German it’s Kutenholt), which is actually part of the Samtgemeinde Fredenbeck.
Wow, that was a mouthful.
Speaking of mouthfuls, eating is something to definitely enjoy around these parts. Oh yeah, think of all the delightful ways you can enjoy the King’s Veg (a.k.a. asparagus), fresh strawberries, and plenty of other farm fresh goodies.
Now before you go off saying to yourself, “I didn’t come all this way to just eat,” know that Kutenholz also has its festive side. But, would you look at that — more opportunities to eat at the Village Festival in June, or the Asparagus Festival, and there’s even a Potato Festival in October.
Also in October is the Oktoberfest celebration, and come November when it’s all about crafts at the Hobbykünstlemarkt. See, there’s more to do than eat. Besides, you need to be well fed if you’re gonna have the energy to take on the countryside. There are quite a number of hiking trails and bike paths in the surrounding area, like the Elberadweg.
You’ll even find a peat bog and a few nature reserves, plus community bike tours, and even a lake. Don’t forget this is northern Germany, so swimming isn’t a year-round event — the lake’s only open from May to the end of September.
That’s all right, use the cooler weather to come indoors to see the small museum with the big name, the Deutsches Feld- und Kleinbahnmuseum in the village of Deinste. Plus, did you know there were prehistoric grave mounds found here?
I guess you do now. ;-)
In the village of Mulsum there’s the Mühle Anna-Maria, and the Church of St. Petri — you can’t miss it, it’s got a black steeple atop this squat tower. Don’t you just love old buildings?
Maybe it’s this kind of thing that inspired local boy Hinrich Braasch, a Low German writer from the late 19th century. I sure know Kutenholz has inspired me.
