In other parts of Germany they celebrate beer, the Romans, all sorts of scenic routes, and a myriad of other things. Here in the town of Uelsen, a nationally recognized health resort town, they really celebrate the Bronze Age.
That’s not to say people are only using prehistoric tools to get things done, or they don’t have indoor plumbing. No, it’s a modern 21st century place.
It’s just that with the Bronze and Iron Age graves they found around here, it seems only right to highlight the town’s prehistoric past.
The absolute best place to see this is at the Bronzezeithof, which is open from April to October. This outdoor museum offers events, seminars, and everything in between to tell you what life was like on a Bronze Age farm.
A lot more can also be found out at the Local History Museum, or Heimatmuseum, housed within the Alte Rathaus (Old Town Hall).
Plus, if you visit the Spöllberg, keep your eyes peeled for the ancient grave hills. The hiking and bike routes along the Spöllberg traverse through some awfully pretty countryside, so it might be hard to pay attention — you don’t want to find yourself in neighboring Netherlands, do you?
Ohh, a terrific place to really see the countryside is at the lookout point in Lönsberg.
One of Uelsen’s many hiking trails will bring you along some of the town’s old mills. Aren’t they just romantic? The Schoneveld’s Mühle is one of the oldest, built in the 1200s. Of course it had to be restored in the 20th century, but it’s still quite old. And the Nordbeck’s Mühle is also quite old. First mentioned in the year 1610, it’s said that its farm already existed a few centuries before that.
Speaking of old, the oldest building in town is the Evangelical Church, whose tower juts 52 meters skyward. It saw a renovation during the Reformation in 1588, but the heart of the church is still medieval Romanesque.
In addition to all the amazing historical stuff, Uelsen isn’t stuffy. It loves a good time, which is evident during all the Maibaum events, Craft Fair, and Christmas Market — to name a few. However, I think the Archaeology Festival (last weekend of July) and the Bronzezeittage (Bronze Age Days) are two of the best.
Do you see why it always comes back to the Bronze Age in Uelsen?
