Gorleben lies on the left bank of the Elbe, at river kilometer 492. The area can be explored through specific nature themes: the Elbe riverbank and Gorlebener Haken, short walks through the landscape, and cycling routes in the surrounding woodlands. Nemitzer Heide is another destination for a cycling excursion. When looking for a hotel in Gorleben, it is therefore helpful to first consider which of these activities will shape your stay; cultural attractions in the wider Lüchow-Dannenberg destination add a regional focus to the options.

The Elbe and Gorlebener Haken

Gorlebener Haken is an old branch of the Elbe; a sports marina with 40 berths is located there. There is also a sanitary building at the quay and four motorhome pitches with utility connections. If you are planning a trip with your own boat or motorhome, these facilities provide practical reference points by the water. The number of berths and facility details may change. Check the information before you travel.

Short Walks and Cycling Routes

The woodlands around Gorleben contain numerous cycling routes. There are also hiking and riding trails, making it possible to enjoy nature even on short walks. This gives you different options for your stay: a bike ride through the woodlands or a shorter walk on foot. Check the trail markings, conditions and access locally before setting out on foot or by bike.

Cycle to Nemitzer Heide

From Gorleben, you can reach Nemitzer Heide on signposted cycle paths along the Elbe-Heide Tour. Numerous circular routes there pass through heathland, forest, meadows and agricultural landscapes. Open dunes and extensive nutrient-poor grasslands give the heathland its distinctive character. The Heidehaus at Nemitzer Heide houses an information exhibition beside the cycle path and car park. Check current opening hours before your visit; you should also check trail markings and route conditions before setting off.

Planning a Longer Bike Ride

If you are considering a route between two places rather than a circular ride, Section F of the Elbe Cycle Route offers a different kind of route: it runs for 75 kilometers from Hitzacker (Elbe) to Wittenberge. The circular routes in Nemitzer Heide and this section therefore differ in form: one returns to the starting point, while the other runs between two endpoints. Check for possible detours before setting off.

River Landscape, Forest and Wildlife

The protected Elbe landscape of the Lower Saxony Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve extends east, north and northwest of Gorleben. South of the town lies the Gartower Tannen pine forest. These landscape features offer different directions for exploring the area: river scenery on several sides and woodland to the south. White-tailed eagles and red kites can be found around Gorleben; storks raise their young here in summer. Sightings of individual animals are not guaranteed.

Culture in the Wider Lüchow-Dannenberg Destination

In the wider Lüchow-Dannenberg destination, museums add cultural themes to nature and cycling excursions. The Wendland Rundlingsmuseum presents a farmstead as an open-air museum in the Rundling village of Lübeln. Traditional crafts are brought to life in the pottery, smithy, bakehouse and wheelwright’s workshop. The Hitzacker Archaeological Centre is an open-air museum on a site that was already used by people around 4,000 years ago. Three reconstructed longhouses and numerous interactive stations invite you to explore the everyday lives of people in the past.

Göhrde is also part of the wider Lüchow-Dannenberg destination: it is northern Germany’s largest contiguous mixed forest. With its numerous protected areas, Göhrde Forest provides a habitat for many rare and endangered species.

Discover more destinations: Höhbeck, Schnega, Gartow, Kassau, Trebel, Jameln, Prezelle, Wehningen

Back to the travel overview: Lüchow-Dannenberg.