Follow the river Elbe south east from the grand harbor city of Hamburg for about 100 km, and you find yourself in a gentle, verdant river plain by the name of Elbtalaue, part of the Wendland - Lower Saxony’s Peaceful Enchantress.
There is something undeniably peaceful about the area that is hard to describe. Is it the remoteness from bustling city life, is it the quiet beauty and country smell and feel?
Is it the presence of abundant wild life, storks, countless species of birds, in combination with the gently ambling river and slow pace that make this particular spot so appealing? It’s hard to describe.
Certain is that it makes you breathe slower and deeper, eager to start walking or riding your bike and exploring, so far away “from it all”. It is enchanting, this land of the Wenden and Rundlingsdoerfer (round villages, which are entirely unique in the country).
The Hannoversches Wendland or just, Wendland, lies in the easternmost corner of the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), bordered to the east by the states of Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and Saxony Anhalt. In the years after the 2nd World War, the Wendland was simply forgotten territory, maybe too close to the now former Iron Curtain to draw attention.
All that has changed – for the good of the region and its rural population.
Today, the Wendland‘s natural beauty remains unspoiled and is cared for. Old traditions are cultivated, crafts are demonstrated at local fairs, regional produce and dairy are offered at farmers’ markets. The whole region has prospered - thanks to smart people with foresight and love of that beautiful part of the country.
One such man is Pomeranian refugee Hans Borchardt who found a new home and life here. Read more in my Spotlight feature Hans Borchardt – Pomeranian Revives Wendland Region.
The Wendland-Elbtalaue has been a leader region since 2001 and, together with 17 other regions, participated in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s Model Region Project as well as other European projects whose main development topics are ecofarming and animal friendly husbandry, alternative energy (biogas), sustainable tourism and cultural activities.
Elbtalaue
Lower Saxony with Wendland on the Eastern border
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