The city of Stade in Lower Saxony is a friendly place that welcomes you with a variety of activities that will entertain and educate.
It was first mentioned in writings dated 994, which means that the city is more than 1,000 years old. Its location on the Elbe River made it an important maritime center.
If you visit there today, you will want to see several historic sites and enjoy many types of cultural events. Water has always played an important part in the commerce of Stade, and a walking tour of the harbor area is a great way to spend an afternoon. You will be able to see a number of beautifully preserved 17th century houses and a reconstructed fish market.
The town hall and the arsenal in the Pferdemarkt are remnants of an era in the late 1600’s when the city was under Swedish rule. Many of the fortifications from that period are still standing and signposts standing at intervals make a pleasant place for tourists to walk and learn.
Any visitor who has an interest in architectural styles will find a lot to see in town. There are several structures dating back to Gothic times, including the vaults in the cellar of the Town Hall and the altar in St. Cosmae’s Church. Examples of the Renaissance and Baroque periods can both be found at the Bürgermeister Hintze House. Classicism and Art Nouveau are also represented in the residences and businesses of the town.
There are at least nine museums in Stade that have exhibits of all kinds. You will find historical displays and artwork in the Swedish Warehouse. This impressive brick building rises out of the water of the harbor on wooden stilts and has archeological displays, artwork, and more. The Open Air Museum on the Island is an area surrounded by an ancient moat, which contains a reconstructed farmhouse, a 17th century windmill and other interesting structures.
The ship Greundiek has been dedicated as a monument and is open to visitors in the harbor area. There is also a museum of Technology and Transportation that explores the ways in which the Industrial Revolution changed the lives of the local people.
If you are interested in a bicycle tour, Stade is an excellent starting point for tours both long and short. You can ride along the Elbe River, tour beautiful dairy farms, or see the North Sea Coast. There are many interesting day and half-day trips as well.
