Goodness, gracious, mercy sakes alive. I can’t believe this is happening yet again. I’m all prepared to find the town of Nienhagen (Celle), only to find out there exist thirteen Nienhagens in Germany, two of which are still political towns in their own right.
To make matters worse, these two are vying for your attention. Speaking of the Ostseebad Nienhagen (yes, a spa town) with its haunted forest, and this Nienhagen here, which is located just south of Celle, trying to attract you with its festivals and natural landscape.
Oh well, that narrows it down some. Sweet — I can find that. ;-)
You can find it too, but don’t go expecting it to be all that big. It’s just over 17.5 square kilometers, made of three villages.
This isn’t a big sightseeing town, it just got a Local History Museum housed in an old school, and the former Erdölbohrturm, which is part & in memory of a 19th century oil rig. Oh yes, and the Turm der St. Laurentius Kirche, or Tower of the Church of St. Lawrence.
Old building tour ends here. But, don’t leave yet. I said it wasn’t big on sightseeing. I never said it wasn’t big on partying. Or, outdoor recreation, for that matter.
Nienhagen (Celle) has some wonderful hiking paths. Look for the storks that make their home here, or just marvel at the beautiful Lower Saxon countryside. There’s also a heated outdoor swimming pool, 3 indoor & 6 outdoor tennis courts, and 3 beach volleyball courts.
The fresh air feels great during one of Nienhagen’s Summer Concerts. I’m thinking this is why the local church holds outdoor Mass. Come October when Nienhagen hosts a Music Festival. Come Easter when there’s an Easter Market; while Christmas is the time for the annual Christmas Market.
In between is the Hagenmarkt, Wine Festival, Park Festival, and the traditional 3-day Hachefest in September.
OK, so what if the Ostseebad Nienhagen has a creepy, haunted forest. This Nienhagen near Celle knows how to throw a party. Which one would you rather have?
