Wietze: Oil History and River Landscapes

Wietze combines a distinctive oil history with river landscapes and routes that bring culture and nature into your travel plans. The German Petroleum Museum presents original drilling and production equipment; along the Aller Cycle Route, a poetry trail accompanies the route with changing poems. Floodplain forests provide a habitat for rare birds. This offers a choice of different interests: the history of technology, cycling, landscapes and activities on the water.

Oil History and Notable Places

The German Petroleum Museum is close to the town centre and explores the history of oil production in Wietze. Its outdoor grounds feature original drilling and production equipment, much of which can still be put into operation. Availability may vary for some equipment. The museum grounds are also home to the 54-metre-high Tower 70, a Wietze landmark.

The Hunäus well is considered one of the world’s first successful oil wells. Its original drilling site near the town centre was reconstructed for its 150th anniversary and provided with a large information board for visitors. In Wieckenberg, you can also find the Stechinelli Chapel, built in 1692, with its well-preserved Baroque interior.

River Landscapes and Activities

Wietzer Ölberg was formed from spoil excavated during work at the Wietze oil shaft. At 41.5 metres high, it offers views across the surrounding area. The Hornbosteler Hutweide is grazed year-round in part by Przewalski’s horses and Heck cattle. Along the Wietze and Aller rivers, floodplain forests provide a habitat for rare birds, including the kingfisher.

The Aller Cycle Route passes through the river landscape around Wietze; alongside it, the poetry trail features changing poems for walkers and cyclists. The museum is also on several tourist cycling and themed routes: the Aller Cycle Route, the Kaliroute, the Postmeister Route and the Hannover Culture Route. A wooden model of a Wietze oil derrick stands at the rest area on the Aller Cycle Route by the mouth of the Wietze. A sheltered area offers space to rest; from there, you can look out over the Aller, the Wietze and the adjoining meadows.

For exploring the Aller, Allerhorn rents out canoes and kayaks by the hour or by the day. Check availability with the provider before your trip. The surrounding region is also home to Lower Saxony’s only gold panning camp, which offers guided gold panning. Check opening arrangements and access before visiting.

In the wider Celle destination

In the Südheide Nature Park, part of the wider Celle destination, there are ten signposted themed cycling routes with a total length of more than 400 kilometres. They lead to notable attractions and through heathland, forests, heathland streams, and moor and pond landscapes. There are also 23 themed hiking trails, five discovery trails and three long-distance hiking trails. Canoeing on the heathland streams in Celle district is subject to a seasonal rule: canoeing is permitted with restrictions each year from 16 May to 14 October. Check local restrictions and water levels before setting out.

Plan Your Trip to the Museum

From the Schwarmstedt exit on the A7, it takes about ten minutes to reach the museum via the B214; journey times may vary depending on traffic. From Celle, bus 800 reaches Wietze in around 40 minutes. The museum is then approximately a 15-minute walk away. Check bus times and routes before travelling. You can compare these travel options with your planned museum visit and preferred mode of transport when choosing where to stay.

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Back to the wider travel overview: Celle.