In Harburg County, different ways of discovering the landscape come together: you can explore cycling routes and hiking trails, visit wildlife parks, or discover art and cultural landscapes. The offerings differ not only in subject matter but also in scale. This makes Harburg an interesting destination for travelers who want to choose their outings according to their own interests.

Cycling and hiking: routes on different scales

A dense network of cycling routes runs through Harburg County, including 1,000 kilometers of signposted tourist cycling trails. Alongside these is the Heidschnuckenweg, a long-distance hiking trail that offers a different way to travel and plan a trip. These two options can be considered as separate ideas for a visit: an extensive network for cycling tours on the one hand, and a hiking route through several counties and heathland areas on the other.

Opened in 2012, the Heidschnuckenweg runs for 223 kilometers from Hamburg through Harburg, Heidekreis and Celle counties, and across more than 30 large and small heathland areas in the North and South Heath. Its 13 stages offer a hiking experience through the Lüneburg Heath. The route is complemented by twelve Heath Loops, ranging in length from 1.4 to 20.9 kilometers. For choosing a hike, distance is therefore a useful point of comparison: the loops cover a broad range, while the Heidschnuckenweg is described as a multi-day route divided into stages. This lets you decide whether to focus your plans on a single loop or a longer hiking route.

Wildlife parks and nature experiences

At Schwarze Berge Wildlife Park in Rosengarten, the 45-meter-high Elbblick Tower is part of a 50-hectare park featuring hills, valleys and lakes. The figures for the tower's height and the park's area give an impression of two different aspects: a striking structure and a landscape shaped by varied terrain and bodies of water. More than 1,200 animals live at Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park in Nindorf-Hanstedt, including Siberian tigers, wolves and snow leopards. Harburg therefore offers different nature-related attractions side by side: the landscape at Schwarze Berge Park and the animal species at Lüneburg Heath Wildlife Park.

The Lüneburg Heath Barefoot Park offers another way to experience nature. Visitors can walk across a variety of natural surfaces and stop at activity stations such as scent boxes and a tree telephone. The experience combines walking on different surfaces with small stations that engage the senses of smell and sound. Those interested in actively discovering nature will find a different approach here than on a walk through a park landscape or while observing animals.

Art and cultural landscapes

The Bossard Art Site preserves Expressionist murals and interior furnishings in their original context. This combination of wall decoration and interior space makes the museum a distinctive cultural attraction in the county: the murals are not separate from the rooms, but are preserved together with their furnishings. For art enthusiasts, this offers a perspective on a total work of art in which design and architecture belong together.

The county's landscapes also shape its character. Alongside the Elbe marshes, the Harburg Hills and the North Heath, the Lüneburg Heath is a particularly prominent feature. Together, these landscapes form a natural environment and a distinctive cultural landscape. For trip planning, this does not mean there is one set itinerary, but rather a choice of different themes: cycling routes, heathland hikes, nature parks and cultural discoveries can each be prioritized according to your interests.

Practical information

The “Museum Kiekeberg” bus stop is directly in front of the Kiekeberg Open-Air Museum and is served by several HVV bus routes. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current timetable before setting off. This will help you plan your journey to this specific attraction while choosing other things to discover in Harburg to suit your interests.

Discover more destinations

Toppenstedt, Winsen an der Luhe, Bendestorf, Undeloh, Tostedt, Sottorf, Sieversen, Seevetal, Salzhausen, Neu Wulmstorf, Hollenstedt, Hittfeld, Heidenau, Egestorf, Buchholz in der Nordheide, Otter, Drage, Jesteburg, Handeloh, Eversen, Scharmbeck, Rosengarten, Marxen, Stelle, Wulfsen, Königsmoor, Hanstedt, Eyendorf, Marschacht, Tespe, Brackel, Gödenstorf, Wenzendorf, Vierhöfen, Garlstorf and Appel.

For the broader travel overview: Lower Saxony.