Discover Gorleben: River, Forest and Heathland

Gorleben lies on the left bank of the Elbe at river kilometre 492. To the east, north and northwest of the village stretches the protected Elbe landscape of the Lower Saxon Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve; to the south lies the Gartower Tannen pine forest. River, forest and heathland give the surrounding area a variety of character and offer different ways to spend your holiday days.

Along the Elbe and on trails through nature

The Gorlebener Haken is an oxbow lake of the Elbe; it has a marina with 40 berths. The quay area has a sanitary building and four motorhome pitches with utility connections. The number of berths and the facilities may change, so check the details before your visit.

There are numerous cycling routes in the forests around Gorleben. Horse-riding and hiking trails add to the options, and even short walks offer a chance to enjoy nature. Choose from various ways to get active, from cycling and horse riding to walking.

Cycle to the Nemitzer Heide

From Gorleben, you can reach the Nemitzer Heide along the signposted cycle paths of the Elbe-Heide Tour. Numerous circular routes there pass through heathland, forests, meadows and farmland. Open dunes and extensive nutrient-poor grassland shape the heath landscape. An information exhibition is located at the Heidehaus, next to the cycle path and a car park. Check opening times and visitor access before your visit.

For a longer cycling route in the region, Section F of the Elbe Cycle Route runs for 75 kilometres from Hitzacker (Elbe) to Wittenberge. Check for possible diversions before setting off. Wildlife is also part of the nature experience: white-tailed eagles and red kites can be found around Gorleben, and storks raise their young there in summer. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Culture and nature in the wider destination of Lüchow-Dannenberg

If you would like to explore culture as well as Gorleben’s river and landscape, the wider destination of Lüchow-Dannenberg offers other attractions in their own right. At the Rundlingsmuseum Wendland, a farmstead in the circular village of Lübeln shows what life was like on a historic farm in this open-air museum. Traditional crafts are brought to life in the pottery, smithy, bakehouse and wheelwright’s workshop. Here, the focus is on craft traditions, while the trails near Gorleben mainly offer opportunities to enjoy nature and get active.

The Hitzacker Archaeological Centre is an open-air museum on a site used by people around 4,000 years ago. Three reconstructed longhouses and numerous interactive stations offer visitors a glimpse into the everyday lives of early people. The site, houses and stations thus provide a different perspective on the region’s history from museums focusing on towns and culture.

The Waldemarturm Dannenberg displays finds and exhibits from the town’s early history on several floors, as well as changing art exhibitions and a permanent exhibition on flooding. The Wustrow Museum is housed in a stately residence built in the late 19th century for merchant Wilhelm Lüring. Its changing exhibitions explore the more recent history of the Wendland, along with social, political and economic history.

The forest landscape of the Göhrde is another distinct nature destination in Lüchow-Dannenberg: it is the largest contiguous mixed forest area in northern Germany. The many protected areas in the Göhrde Forest provide habitats for numerous rare and endangered species. The Naturum Göhrde offers forest experience programmes and guided walks on a range of topics on request.

Discover more destinations: Schnega, Waddeweitz, Wehningen, Bergen (Dumme), Lübbow, Leisten, Luckau, Höhbeck.

Back to the wider travel overview: Lüchow-Dannenberg.