Wietze combines the history of oil production with routes along the Aller and Wietze rivers. The German Petroleum Museum, near the town centre, explores Wietze’s oil production; its outdoor area features original drilling and extraction equipment. Many of the exhibits can still be operated, although the availability of individual installations may vary. Other sites show how the history of oil production has left its mark beyond the museum.

Oil Production and Its Legacy

The Hunäus borehole is considered one of the world’s first successful oil wells. Its original location near the town centre was reconstructed for its 150th anniversary and marked with a large information board for visitors. The grounds of the German Petroleum Museum are also home to Tower 70: at 54 metres tall, it is a landmark of Wietze. Another trace of oil production is Wietzer Ölberg. It was formed from the spoil excavated from Wietze’s oil shaft. At 41.5 metres high, Ölberg offers views of the surrounding area. The museum, the borehole site and Ölberg each highlight a different aspect: technical installations, the story of an early oil well and a landscape feature formed from the spoil of the oil shaft.

Routes Along the Aller and Wietze

The Aller Cycle Path passes through the river landscape around Wietze. Nearby, the poetry trail features changing poems along the cycle path and is intended for walkers and cyclists. The museum is also on several tourist cycling and themed routes, including the Aller Cycle Path, the Kaliroute, the Postmeister-Route and the Kulturroute Hannover. For a break by the water, the rest area on the Aller Cycle Path at the mouth of the Wietze is a useful landmark: it has a wooden model of the Wietze oil derrick and a covered rest area. From the rest area, you can look out over the Aller and Wietze rivers and the surrounding meadows.

Nature along the rivers is also part of the area’s character. Floodplain forests along the Wietze and Aller provide habitats for rare bird species, including the kingfisher. At Hornbosteler Hutweide, Przewalski’s horses and Heck cattle graze part of the area year-round. This describes a distinctive form of landscape management; it does not imply that the animals can necessarily be seen.

Culture and Activities

In Wieckenberg, the Stechinelli Chapel, built in 1692, has a well-preserved Baroque interior. It complements the area’s industrial history with a different historical focus. On the water, Allerhorn offers canoes and kayaks for exploring the Aller by the hour or by the day. Check availability before your trip. The surrounding region is also home to Lower Saxony’s only gold-panning camp, which offers guided gold panning. Check in advance whether the camp is operating and open to visitors.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

To travel by car, take the B214 from the Schwarmstedt exit on the A7 to the German Petroleum Museum; the drive takes about ten minutes. Actual travel time depends on traffic. From Celle, bus 800 reaches Wietze in about 40 minutes, followed by an approximately 15-minute walk to the museum. Check bus times and the route before setting off. This makes it easier to tailor your journey to your interests: the museum and the Hunäus borehole tell the story of oil production, while the cycle paths, river landscape and rest area reveal other sides of the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Unterlüß, Ahnsbeck, Hambühren, Wathlingen, Hermannsburg, Nordburg, Meissendorf, Eldingen.

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