About half of Northeim’s town wall is still well preserved. Built between 1252 and 1305, it offers a tangible introduction to the town’s history: part of the fortifications from that time remains visible today.
Town history in a half-timbered building
The former Sankt Spiritus pilgrims’ hostel also brings together architectural history and a cultural venue in use today: it houses the town museum and is one of the most significant Gothic half-timbered buildings in Lower Saxony. Those interested in Northeim’s historic buildings will find another striking example here, alongside the town wall.
Puppets, masks and stories
Theater der Nacht offers a different form of storytelling. Since August 2001, it has been based in the converted premises of a former fire station in Northeim. It works exclusively with puppets, masks and objects, and explores legends, myths and fairy tales. Its award-winning programme includes 200 performances as well as courses, exhibitions and talks. This means that, alongside the town’s history, visitors can also explore performing arts and a range of event formats.
Northeim Touristik offers guided tours of the town, museums and forests. The different tour themes provide an opportunity to tailor your visit to your interests. When choosing, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on local history, museum topics or the forest.
Harzhorn: Keep visiting conditions in mind
The Roman battlefield at Harzhorn is in southern Lower Saxony, in the district of Northeim, on the B248 between Oldenrode and Ildehausen. The information building on site serves as the starting and finishing point for guided tours and events. It is accessible without barriers; however, the route through the grounds is not accessible throughout because some forest paths are steep. Check the current visitor information before setting out, especially if accessibility is important to your plans.
Lake district and cycle routes
The Northeimer Seenplatte waterfowl reserve is a protected habitat for wildlife and plants. At the lake district, the circular lake route is open to pedestrians and cyclists. The first section, about 1.6 kilometres in total, was completed in July 2006. This section can be distinguished from the longer cycle route: the approximately 410-kilometre Leine-Heide Cycle Route runs from Eichsfeld through Northeim and across the heath to Hamburg. This means there is both a route section at the lake district and a longer route with endpoints far apart, catering to different cycling and nature interests.
Getting around and finding accommodation
In the district of Northeim, the A7 provides strong north–south connections. There is also a regional public transport network of bus and rail links, particularly between larger municipalities. Timetables and services may change, so check current connections if you are relying on buses or trains for your plans.
If you are looking for a hotel in Northeim, consider what you want to focus on during your trip: the town wall, museum and theatre offer cultural discoveries, while the lake district and cycle routes appeal to other interests. The district’s other destinations can also be grouped by theme. Rather than choosing accommodation based on amenities that have not been confirmed, first consider which of these themes matter to you during your stay.
Culture and history in the wider area
In the wider region, Einbeck has its own attractions: PS.SPEICHER is a classic-car and experience museum exploring more than 200 years of mobility history. Tastings of Einbecker beer are also offered in Einbeck. Visitors can see colourful street art along the Einbecker Bierpfad.
In Bad Gandersheim, the Portal zur Geschichte in Brunshausen Monastery Church presents the exhibition “Strong Women – Fine Stitches”. It explores textiles from the early Middle Ages through to the Baroque period, as well as the lives of women who were active at the abbey. Another way to discover history is through the rediscovered church treasury in the collegiate church on the historic market square, where visitors can see precious reliquaries, liturgical objects and sacred works of art.
Other regional themes range from town history to the history of the Earth. Guided walks through Uslar’s historic old town include visits to, among other places, the ruins of the former Freudenthal hunting lodge, the town walls, St John’s Church and the historic town hall; participants learn about the history of the old town. The Willershausen clay pit, meanwhile, is a natural monument and fossil site where flora and fauna from three million years ago have been preserved. This makes it possible to give cultural and natural history interests different weight when choosing other destinations.
Discover more destinations: Bodenfelde, Dassel, Uslar, Northeim, Nörten-Hardenberg, Einbeck, Katlenburg-Lindau, Bad Gandersheim, Hardegsen, Moringen, Kalefeld.
Back to the main travel overview: Lower Saxony.
