Discover Gifhorn: Mills, Moorland and Nature

In the district of Gifhorn, heathland, forests, moorland, rivers and lakes shape the landscape. There are also cultural attractions, wildlife watching and an extensive cycling network. When planning your trip, it makes a difference whether you focus on mills and crafts, nature watching, a ride into the moor or cycling tours.

Landscape of moorland and water

The Drömling, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is part of the Gifhorn district. The BernsteinSee offers a vivid impression of the relationship between water and landscape: it covers 9.5 hectares, is up to 16 metres deep and is located in Sassenburg-Stüde, right beside the Elbe Lateral Canal. Forest, heathland and moorland shape its surroundings.

The Großes Moor Moor Railway offers a different perspective on the moor. Specially adapted, covered passenger carriages travel at six kilometres per hour into the Großes Moor, in the municipality of Sassenburg. There are two stops along the circular route, as well as a boardwalk and an observation platform. The service is seasonal and weather-dependent, so plan your visit around its operating days.

Mills, crafts and history

The International Wind and Watermill Museum in Gifhorn features 13 full-size mills from around the world. The village square on the grounds is open to all visitors free of charge. You can also find fresh bread from the historic bakehouse and regional specialities in the farm shop. These offerings may change, so check before your visit.

Brome Castle also offers a connection to history: it is one of more than 70 border fortresses in the Principality of Lüneburg. At events hosted by the Living Museum at Brome Castle Museum, visitors can try their hand at forging iron or hammering wooden nails into shoes. Check the event dates in advance if you would like to include these craft activities in your plans.

Watch wildlife and learn about nature

At the OTTER-ZENTRUM Hankensbüttel, visitors can watch otters, badgers, stoats, stone martens, polecats, minks and pine martens in enclosures designed to resemble their natural habitats. The NABU Species Conservation Centre in Leiferde has a different focus: it cares for native wild animals in need, mainly birds, and releases recovered animals back into their natural habitats as soon as possible. Its work also includes environmental education, daily information services, resources and connecting people with nature conservation organisations.

An ornithological walking trail runs around Tankumsee lake. Information boards along the trail share interesting facts about the birds found at Tankumsee. These are complementary ways to experience nature: watching animals in enclosures, learning about conservation work and discovering the birdlife around the lake.

Cycling tours and finding the right focus

The district’s cycling network includes around 700 kilometres of leisure cycling routes. In addition, there are around 550 kilometres of everyday cycling routes and connecting paths. These figures refer to different parts of the network: leisure routes on the one hand and everyday connections on the other. Around 400 signposted junctions can be combined to plan your own cycling routes.

The Südheide cycling flyer offers another way to plan, featuring a total of 14 signposted cycling tours. GPX tracks and further information can be downloaded using a QR code. Before setting out, check the current route and available route data.

Consider which places and activities matter most for your trip, and choose accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Ummern, Weyhausen, Wesendorf, Tappenbeck, Ribbesbüttel, Gifhorn, Isenbüttel, Leiferde, Müden, Meinersen, Dedelstorf, Sprakensehl, Hankensbüttel, Schönewörde, Sassenburg, Steinhorst, Groß Oesingen, Obernholz, Emmen, Neudorf-Platendorf, Räderloh, Wilsche, Vollbüttel, Hagen, Behren, Rühen, Brechtorf, Meine, Abbesbüttel, Hillerse, Bergfeld, Tiddische, Brome, Didderse, Bokensdorf, Calberlah, Ehra-Lessien, Wittingen, Tülau, Vordorf, Wahrenholz.

For the regional travel overview: Lower Saxony.