Schwarmstedt

Resort in south Lüneburg Heath

The officially recognized resort of Schwarmstedt is located where the Aller and Leine Rivers separate and ancient trade routes intersect. Most cyclists pass through Schwarmstedt on their way from Verden to Celle. Schwarmstedt offers good shopping facilities and a number of historical buildings to visit. For instance, the "Alte Burg" (Old Fortress) is an example of a rare type of baroque half-timbered building with a characteristic projecting gable end.

A castle is included as part of the package. For 800 years the Lords of Bothmer have maintained their ancestral seat at Bothmer Castle. Church services and weddings still take place in the chapel on occasion.

In the school museum "Alte Dorfschule Bothmer" (Bothmer Old Village School) you can experience a lesson as delivered at the time of the Kaiser. You can also check out the masterpieces in the private collection of mechanical musical instruments in "Harry's Museum of Sound".

The Dutch windmill on the banks of the Leine River between Bothmer and Gilten has an eventful history. After extensive restoration work, it is again fully functional and is a popular destination for excursions.

St. Laurentius Church in Schwarmstedt was built around 1500 as a three-aisled hall church in the late Gothic style. You can rely on it being open from 10 am to 5 pm all year round.

The oldest part of St. Paul's Church in Gilten dates from around 1450. The floor in the nave is unique: the elaborate detail of the mosaic - made from Leine River pebbles - was designed by the well-known Schwarmstedt artist Siegfried Steege. You can rely on the church being open from 9 am to 6 pm from April to October.

The meadows along the Schwarmstedt Aller River invite a leisurely stroll. In spring, the route takes you past flowering bushes, always following the river. You can observe storks foraging in the meadows and an occasional Egyptian goose flying by.