Oversized boots at several locations in the old town tell the stories of figures from Wittingen’s history: the Schusterstiefel themed trail turns them into a walking tour with historical stops. The town also has architectural traces, museums and a cycling tour through the surrounding countryside. This gives you a choice of different focuses when planning your visit—from exploring individual historical periods to longer outdoor activities.
Traces and landmarks of local history
In its present form, St. Stephen’s Church is the makeshift reconstruction of a basilica built around 1250. Another turning point shaped the history of the ramparts: after Wittingen was destroyed in 1519, fortifications were built, and remnants of them have survived as ramparts to this day. The Rade Landwehr adds another facet as a historic border fortification. Around four kilometres of it remain, making it one of the best-preserved structures of its kind in Lower Saxony.
These places present different aspects of history: the church ruin points to a medieval building, the ramparts to fortifications built after the town’s destruction, and the Landwehr to an earlier border fortification. The Schusterstiefel themed trail offers a different focus, introducing figures from the town’s history at several stops in the old town.
Museums and regional history
The Haus der Landschaft in Knesebeck is a staircase granary dating from 1835. Its exhibition focuses on forestry equipment, forest surveying and peat extraction. At the Museum im Dorf in Lüben, the main exhibits include historic household and farm implements, hunting and fishing, and the exhibition “From Seed to Harvest.” The Junkerhof Wittingen presents a historical exhibition featuring everyday objects from the Gifhorn region.
The Zasenbeck community centre offers another perspective: an exhibition there explores the history of a village on the former inner-German border. Visits are possible by prior arrangement. Visiting arrangements for the exhibitions in Knesebeck and LĂĽben may vary, so check before planning your visit. Their different themes range from forestry and agriculture to everyday life and the history of the border.
Brewing history and guided tours
The Wittingen private brewery is located in the town centre, which is more than 1,200 years old. Its brewing rights are historically documented from 1429. A brewery tour explains how beer is made today and the history of beer, and includes a walk through the brewhouse. Tours can be booked. If you would like to include one in your plans, check current availability before your trip.
Cycling and the wider region
The Wittingen Tour starts in the old town and follows a cycling route of around 40 kilometres through the countryside around Wittingen. The starting point in the historic town centre and the approximate distance are both useful details for planning. In the wider Gifhorn destination, the district’s cycling network includes around 700 kilometres of leisure cycling routes and a further 550 kilometres of everyday routes and connecting paths. Around 400 signposted junctions can be combined to plan individual cycling routes.
Wittingen offers a range of themes for a stay: historic buildings and fortifications, exhibitions, brewing history and cycling. A cycling tour of around 40 kilometres calls for different planning than a museum visit; access to the exhibition in Zasenbeck requires a prior arrangement. If you are looking for a hotel, choose one based on the activities you want to focus on during your trip, and check specific visiting arrangements in good time.
Harbour and practical information
Wittingen’s sports harbour has a full mooring system, water and electricity connections, toilets and showers. It also lists 20 visitor berths and 20 motorhome pitches. Visitor information about facilities may change, so check the amenities and details before you arrive.
Discover more destinations: Leiferde, Dedelstorf, Bokensdorf, Wahrenholz, Brome, HankensbĂĽttel, Bergfeld, Ehra-Lessien
Go to the main travel overview: Gifhorn.
