Eimke: Heathland, River Courses and Discoveries

Eimke is a destination where heathland, wetlands and river scenery set the tone. The Ellerndorfer Juniper Heath covers almost 70 hectares and is the largest continuous area of heathland in the Uelzen district. In the Kiehnmoor nature reserve, wetlands meet extensive heathland. The Gerdau heathland stream also follows a natural course through the Eimke countryside. Several types of landscape take centre stage: expansive heathland as well as water-shaped areas.

Heathland in Bloom and Trails Along the Water

The Ellerndorfer Juniper Heath is ideal for long walks, especially during the heathland flowering season in August and September. A shepherd and a flock of Heidschnucken sheep can regularly be seen there at this time. Visiting in season adds a special touch to a late-summer trip. The Eimke-Wichtenbeck circular hiking trail crosses the young Gerdau twice and follows the Allerbach to Wichtenbeck. Unlike the longer walks through the heathland, this route is guided by the course of the rivers. It makes the trail a good choice if you would rather plan your time around a specific route than around the heathland flowering season.

The Kiehnmoor reveals another side of the landscape, with its wetlands and extensive heathland. Together with the Gerdau heathland stream’s natural course, it offers nature experiences that reach beyond the juniper heath. If you are deciding between heathland and waterways when planning your trip, the seasonal bloom can be one point of reference, while the banks and river scenery can be enjoyed as a focus in their own right.

Church and Regional Produce

St. Mary’s Church in Eimke is a fieldstone church dating from the 14th century. Notable features include a Becker organ from 1870 and a baptismal font made from an old holy-water font. This brings together the church’s medieval origins, the organ’s later date and a baptismal font whose origins lie in a different ecclesiastical use.

E. Rüter has been operating in Lower Saxony since 1948, processing garden produce and fruit into fruit juices and fruit wines. The apple juice is made from 100 percent locally grown fruit from orchards. By prior arrangement, you can obtain untreated, cold-pressed juice directly from E. Rüter’s production site. This is a separate way to include regional produce in your trip plans; as an appointment is required, it should not be treated as an impromptu visit.

Another Option in Wichtenbeck

Wichtenbeck has a small natural swimming pond next to a large playground. This gives you two different leisure options side by side: swimming and a play area. If you plan to visit the natural swimming pond, check its seasonal opening hours in advance. The combination may be useful when planning your day, while heathland hikes and the circular trail offer different focuses.

Culture in the Wider Uelzen Destination

For other cultural attractions, explore the wider Uelzen destination. Uelzen’s Hundertwasser railway station was created as a project for Expo 2000 in Hanover and is one of the last works by Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. It brings together art, ecology and modernity. For a different historical perspective, visit the Ebstorf World Map at Ebstorf Abbey: it was probably created around 1300, measures approximately 13 square metres and is considered the largest known medieval depiction of the world.

From 1 April to 31 October, Ebstorf Abbey offers tours lasting around 90 minutes, with explanations of the World Map. Check the current dates in advance if you would like to book a tour. When choosing your accommodation and travel dates, you can decide whether to focus on Eimke’s heathland and river scenery or also include cultural attractions in the wider Uelzen destination.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Bevensen, Rätzlingen, Altenmedingen, Schwienau, Lüder, Bad Bodenteich, Suderburg, Bienenbüttel.

Back to the wider travel guide: Uelzen.