Discover Loxstedt: Church, legends and Stoteler Lake

In Loxstedt, medieval church art, legends along cycling routes, and opportunities for swimming and fishing at Stoteler Lake come together. These varied experiences offer different starting points for planning your trip: a visit to St. Mary’s Church, a bike ride with stories along the way, or time by the water.

Church, painting and organ building

St. Mary’s is a single-nave Gothic brick church. It was built as a chapel in 1371 and extended in 1451, when it became a parish church. Its history also includes a special artistic treasure: the church contains wall paintings from the early 15th century, including the Loxstedt Dance of Death. The organ is the last work by organ builder Matthias Schreiber. The building thus brings together architectural history, painting and organ building.

During the winter half of the year, you can visit St. Mary’s during a church service. Tours can be arranged through the parish office or the church office; to arrange a tour, contact either office. Visiting during a service and taking a guided tour are two different ways to get to know the church.

Cycling along legendary routes

Loxstedt has two cycling routes known as Legends Trails. The Loxstedt Legends Trail 1 tells stories of robber knights and dragon stones, as well as the hare and the hedgehog. It is signposted in both directions and you can start anywhere along the route. You can also arrive by regional train via Bremerhaven-Lehe; check the current service before your ride.

The Loxstedt Legends Trail 2 has starting points in Stotel and Dedesdorf. Another option for finding your way is a 15-kilometre route along the Weser dike in the Loxstedt area. The details differ: the first Legends Trail focuses on legends and flexible starting points, two locations are listed as starting points for the second, and the dike route is given a specific length. This lets you choose the route information that matters most for your trip.

Stoteler Lake: swimming and fishing

Stoteler Lake borders the Stoteler Moor nature reserve. For swimming, there is a beach monitored by the DLRG (German Life Saving Association); supervision may vary by season. Before swimming, check whether any temporary restrictions are currently in place. Fishing is also possible at the lake, but only for club members or with a day permit. Swimming and fishing are therefore two different ways to enjoy the lake, each with its own conditions to consider when planning your visit.

More experiences in the wider Cuxhaven destination

In the wider Cuxhaven destination, the Wadden Sea Visitor Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a distinctive experience: its exhibition spans three floors and shares information about the Wadden Sea and the Cuxhaven coastal heathlands. Guided nature tours offer the chance to experience mudflats, salt marsh, geest cliff and coastal heath. Other ways to discover Cuxhaven include the 29-metre-high wooden Kugelbake, which marks the end of the Elbe and the start of the North Sea, and the two-storey Alte Liebe viewing platform, with views over the Elbe. These destinations complement the focus on Loxstedt with their own themes within the wider destination.

Choose accommodation to match your travel interests

St. Mary’s, cycling the Legends Trails, or swimming and fishing at Stoteler Lake. For a church visit, check service times during the winter half of the year or arrange a tour through the parish or church office. For the routes, the information about starting points, length and train connections can help; at the lake, factor in seasonal supervision and fishing requirements.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Langen, Nordleda, Hagen Im Bremischen, Otterndorf, Hechthausen, Cuxhaven, Steinau, Midlum.

Back to the wider travel overview: Cuxhaven.