Oldendorf: Church, History and Moor, Water and Forest

In Oldendorf, St. Martin’s Church and the Moor, Water and Forest Trail offer two different highlights: the architectural and furnishing history of the roughly 800-year-old church, and nature-related themes along the circular route. You can plan your stay around history, the landscape, or both.

St. Martin’s Church: Architectural History and Furnishings

St. Martin’s Church is a single-nave fieldstone building dating from around 1200 and is about 800 years old. Its approximately 36-metre-high tower is a landmark of Oldendorf. “Single-nave” describes the building’s basic layout, while “fieldstone” refers to its building material. The altar and epitaph date from 1651, and the organ case from 1730/31. An epitaph is a memorial marker; the organ case is the visible front of the organ. The current design of the interior, entrances and windows was created in 1901.

Archaeological Traces

Archaeological evidence adds to the building’s history. Excavations took place immediately beside the Romanesque St. Martin’s Church in 2009–2010. A georadar survey inside the church revealed the apse of an earlier building and crypts in 2014. An apse is an architectural feature that forms the end of a church space. There is also a Romanesque baptismal or holy-water font outside, by the north wall. Until well into the second half of the 19th century, funeral crowns were placed in the graves of young children, girls and unmarried young women in Oldendorf.

Moor, Water and Forest: Circular Route and Stops

The Moor, Water and Forest Trail is an 8.5-kilometre circular route. It passes through moorland, by ponds and through woodland. Twelve interactive and educational stops accompany the route; their themes also include climate protection. The 8.5 kilometres refer to the entire loop; each section can also be explored independently.

Wayfinding and Trail Conditions

The trail is marked in different colours depending on the section; wayfinding posts along the route show the direction. Benches where you can rest and enjoy views of nature are also located along the trail. The Moor, Water and Forest Trail is not fully accessible: some sections are in a nature reserve, and fords remain along the former church path. Take these conditions into account if accessibility is important to your plans.

Landscapes in the District of Stade

The landscape of the District of Stade is shaped by the broad marshes along the Elbe, the cultural landscape of the Altes Land, river valleys in the geest and untamed raised bogs. These landscapes offer opportunities for local recreation and observing nature.

Maritime Heritage in Wischhafen

In Wischhafen, the District of Stade offers a maritime cultural attraction: the Kehdingen Coastal Shipping Museum. The museum’s collection includes the coastal motor vessel MS IRIS-JÖRG, which visitors can see in the listed harbour directly next to the museum. You can also take the Kehdingen seafarer’s certificate at the museum. The Wischhafen Maritime Walk has information signs on a range of maritime topics at many points along the route. Information boards and a leaflet, available from the tourist information office and the museum, provide information about the region’s crafts, trade, historic locks and ferries.

Discover more destinations: Guderhandviertel, Sauensiek, Harsefeld, Wischhafen, Jork, Stade, Krummendeich, Deinste

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