Gartow: Discover the lake, nature and castle history

Gartow combines Lake Gartow with nature watching and a distinctive architectural history. The 67-hectare lake lies in the heart of the town and was created primarily for local recreation. Alongside water activities, nature trails and the history of Gartow Castle shape the themes of a stay. When looking for accommodation, it helps to first consider whether swimming and water sports, nature or history should be your main focus.

Lake Gartow and its water activities

Lake Gartow has two bathing areas and a sunbathing lawn for visitors. Water activities include pedal boating, stand-up paddling, sailing and surfing. You can choose between spending time on the shore and various activities on the water. Before your trip, check local bathing conditions, as well as current conditions and provider availability.

Gartow is situated in the Elbtalaue Nature Park landscape. Tourism initiatives connected with Gartow also include the Elbe Cycle Route and a white-tailed eagle project.

Observe nature and discover the landscape

The observation tower in Nienwalde and the adjacent beaver nature trail offer opportunities to watch white-tailed eagles and beavers and learn more about their protection. The Gartow wildlife enclosure also has a wolf nature trail, along with information about forests, wildlife and habitats. A 6.5-kilometre circular trail around Lake Gartow is titled “Of Beavers, White-Tailed Eagles and Centennial Floods.” For hiking and Nordic walking, forests, open meadows, and the landscapes around Lake Gartow and in the Elbtalaue provide the scenic setting.

In the Gartow area, the Elbetouren canoe station offers guided canoe trips on the Elbe year-round, boat hire and a return transport service. Check current tour dates and operating conditions in advance. When planning, you can consider the options at Lake Gartow and canoe trips on the Elbe as distinct water experiences.

Information on site

Gartow’s official information centre focuses on beavers and white-tailed eagles and includes exhibitions on the development of the cultural landscape. The Gartow Tourist Information Office provides information on activities and museums, cycling and hiking maps, as well as fishing permits for Lake Gartow. While the information centre focuses on nature and landscape topics, the Tourist Information Office is a point of contact for information on activities and museums, maps and fishing permits. Check current opening hours and service information before visiting.

Gartow Castle and its history

Gartow Castle is a listed Baroque building that was rebuilt between 1710 and 1725 after several major fires. As the historic manor house of the Gartow estate, it stands on the site of a medieval castle complex. The castle site and the later Baroque building offer two distinct points of reference in the castle’s history: the medieval complex and its reconstruction in the early 18th century.

You can use your interests as a guide when choosing accommodation: the lake offers swimming and water sports, the nature trails and landscapes offer nature-related experiences, and Gartow Castle offers architectural and local history. This helps you decide on the focus of your stay in Gartow before narrowing down your search.

Discover more destinations: Wehningen, Woltersdorf, Göhrde, Damnatz, Lemgow, Hitzacker, Clenze, Jameln

Go to the overview of the wider travel region: Lüchow-Dannenberg.