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Dip into our inspiring eBrochure and get your first impressions about the sheer diversity of Germany as a travel destination. The eBrochure is available in 32 languages.

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Further information:
You can find more information about Germany on our website at: www.germany-tourism.de, or on our local websites.

 

Other highlights

Contact

Lüneburger Heide GmbH
Wallstr. 4
21335 Lüneburg
Email:
info@lueneburger-heide.de
Internet:
www.lueneburger-heide.de

Lüneburg Heath
An explosion of colour

Shepherd with his flock on Lüneburg Heath

Lüneburg Heath is a rich natural and cultivated landscape between the Elbe, Aller and Weser rivers and the cities of Bremen, Braunschweig, Hamburg and Hannover. The varied countryside features glacial valleys, moraines, morainic plains, heathland, moors and wooded areas. "Lüneburg Heath has four high seasons: it blooms but once a year" - wrote the famous heathland poet Herman Löns, who is buried in the Tietlingen juniper grove between Walsrode and Fallingbostel.

The countryside here is no longer dominated by the typical heathland, as forestation and agricultural activities have taken their effect. However, the landscape has retained many of its original features - heather, clusters of juniper trees, beech-lined paths in protected areas. Old traditions such as rearing heathland sheep and beekeeping are still practised up in the higher areas.

Moorland scenery with white flowering moor grasses ? Photo: Tourismusverband Lüneburger Heide e.V

Protected sections of heathland can be found in the Lüneburg Heath nature conservation area, South Heath nature reserve, Elbe-Darwehn nature reserve, and the area around Uelzen and Gifhorn. One of the region's most magnificent annual highlights is the heather, which blossoms during the months of August and September, covering the countryside with a carpet of pink and violet flowers. Heather enthusiasts come in their thousands to visit the heather festivals and parades, and to watch the Heather Queen being crowned.

However, Lüneburg Heath has more to offer than just the pink glow of heather blossom. Other typical features include villages with traditional farms, watermills and windmills, country estates and small towns with magnificent town halls, as well as traditional songs and costume, now rarely seen. Today, in the nature conservation area around Wilsede Hill, the highest point in the region at 169 metres, you'll see around two thousand Heathland sheep grazing along with their lambs.

 
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Highlights in brief

  • Lüneburg Heath nature reserve
    Heathland sheep, megalithic graves, carriage rides
  • Lüneburg
    Brick Gothic architecture, town hall, German salt museum
  • Celle
    Medieval town with castle
  • Gifhorn
    International windmill and watermill park
  • Uelzen
    railway station redesigned by Hundertwasser
  • Soltau
    Heidepark amusement park
  • Walsrode
    Largest bird park in the world
  • Hodenhagen
    Serengeti amusement park with exotic animals
  • Bleckede
    Elbe Valley Meadows biosphere reserve (UNESCO world heritage site), Elbschloss (Bleckede House)
  • Bad Bevensen
    Health resort, iodine-saline thermal baths, largest high ropes course in Germany