Discover Dedelstorf: Heathland and the history of the military site

Dedelstorf can be explored through two distinct themes: Schnuckenheide heathland as a habitat and a testament to historic land use, and the history of the former military site. When planning your trip, consider whether you are more interested in nature and landscape or in the history of the barracks. These themes can also help guide your search for a place to stay in Dedelstorf.

Heathland with a natural and cultural history

Schnuckenheide is characterised mainly by dry, nutrient-poor sandy soils on which heath grows. Smaller areas consist of juniper, birch, dry scrub and matgrass. This mosaic of habitats provides a home for numerous endangered plant and animal species. At the same time, Schnuckenheide is significant for the study of nature and local history as a remnant of land use once widespread across Lower Saxony. The landscape thus tells a story of both ecological diversity and a long-established form of land use.

Repke Schnuckenheide is a heathland area of around eight hectares between Repke and Hankensbüttel. It includes juniper heath and bee stands. For many years, the area was maintained by a flock of Heidschnucke sheep; it has also been rejuvenated using modern methods. This landscape therefore brings together traditional management and newer rejuvenation methods.

In the Schnuckenheide protected area, visitors are asked to stay on the paths and keep dogs on a lead. Check the protected area's rules before your visit.

Memories of the former military site

The Standort Dedelstorf heritage building presents excerpts from the 60-year history of the former Richthofen Barracks. The exhibition is housed in a staff building at the Richthofen Barracks, comprises 15 rooms and is run by soldiers who were stationed there. Staged scenes depicting an office, telephone exchange and detention cell are connected with the former military site. The exhibition also includes documents about displaced people from Latvia and Lithuania. Some displaced people received new papers in Dedelstorf.

The Standort Dedelstorf heritage association also holds its traditional annual gathering at the former Richthofen Barracks in Dedelstorf. The exhibition and gathering present the site's history in different ways: the exhibition brings together historical themes in several rooms, while the gathering is a recurring event that forms part of the association's tradition. You can therefore consider the heath's natural and cultural history as one focus, and the history of the former military site as another.

Gifhorn as a wider regional setting

The wider Gifhorn destination adds its own landscape and cycling themes. Gifhorn district encompasses heathland, forests, moorland, rivers and lakes. In the wider Südheide region, hiking trails lead through heath, meadows, fields and forests, with mostly gentle climbs. For a cycling trip in the district, there are around 700 kilometres of recreational cycle routes, plus around 550 kilometres of everyday cycling routes, including connecting routes. Around 400 signposted cycle nodes can be combined to plan individual routes. Gifhorn therefore offers a broad selection of landscapes and cycling options as a regional setting, while Dedelstorf's themes are presented here through its heathland and the history of the military site.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lingwedel, Brome, Wittingen, Hankensbüttel, Calberlah, Ummern, Tappenbeck, Groß Oesingen.

Back to the main travel overview: Gifhorn.