The Rundling layout in southern Rühen offers a tangible glimpse into the village’s history. Rühen is not only defined by its medieval origins: its former connection to the Drömling and its later role in freight transport to Berlin are also part of its story. Visitors can also explore two different routes: a circular cycling route through the Drömling and a themed walking trail.
Rundling village and local history
Rühen developed as a Wendish Rundling village in the 12th century. A clearly recognisable Rundling layout has been preserved in the south. In this way, the village’s history combines a tangible origin with a feature that remains visible today. Historically, the Drömling provided Rühen’s farmers with wood and pastureland, so the landscape also served a practical purpose for the village.
After the Second World War, Rühen took on another, very different role: until German reunification, it was a border crossing and customs port for freight traffic through the GDR to Berlin. The medieval village layout, former agricultural use and post-war transport represent different chapters in the village’s history. Together, they make Rühen a destination whose character is not limited to a single era.
Cycling and walking in the Drömling
The Drömling Circular Route is a cycling loop that both starts and ends at Oebisfelder Str. 100 in Rühen. It passes through the southern and northern Drömling. In the Lower Saxony part of the Drömling, the route passes many nature reserves. The route therefore offers a look at different parts of the Drömling, while keeping the start and finish in the same place.
The Drömling Nature Trail is an alternative to this cycling tour: the walking route is 6.71 kilometres long, forms a loop and is rated “very easy”. It starts and ends east of Rühen on the B244; parking is available for visitors to the trail. Seven stops explain the transformation from a natural landscape to a cultural landscape. The two options therefore offer different highlights: the cycling route focuses on crossing the southern and northern Drömling, while the walking trail explores landscape development at its stops.
For orientation, the municipality’s official map shows cycling and hiking routes. It complements the specific start and finish details for the two routes with an overview to help with navigation.
Gifhorn as the wider regional setting
The wider destination of Gifhorn County includes heathland, forests, moorland, rivers and lakes. The Drömling, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is also located in Gifhorn County. The cycling network can also be considered at county level: it comprises around 700 kilometres of leisure cycling routes, plus approximately 550 kilometres of everyday routes with connecting sections. These figures describe the network across the county as a whole and should be distinguished from the specific details of the Drömling Circular Route in Rühen.
Discover more destinations: Wittingen, Meinersen, Ummern, Ehra-Lessien, Weyhausen, Brechtorf, Ribbesbüttel, Wesendorf.
Back to the wider travel overview: Gifhorn.
