Worpswede offers a special gateway to art history: at the art gallery, exhibitions, and former homes and studios, you can encounter several generations of artists and a range of styles. At the same time, the town is set within the cultural landscape of the Devil’s Moor, where nature, history and culture come together. When discovering Osterholz, art and landscape are therefore presented as distinct subjects, each with its own character.
Explore art history at several venues
The Worpswede Art Gallery permanently displays works by the first generation of Worpswede painters and their successors. At the Modersohn House Museum, you can see works by the first generation of Worpswede painters. The former home of Paula Modersohn-Becker and Otto Modersohn is dedicated to Paula Modersohn-Becker’s life, which is brought to life through works and photographs. The collections thus offer different ways in: one through the development of an artists’ group, the other through the life and work of a single artist.
Architecture is also part of Worpswede’s artistic landscape. The Große Kunstschau is part of Bernhard Hoetger’s Expressionist ensemble, along with Kaffee Worpswede. The Große Kunstschau was built in 1927, and Kaffee Worpswede in 1925. The art gallery building is designed like a sculpture made of red bricks. The exhibition features works by Heinrich Vogeler, Otto Modersohn, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Hans am Ende, Fritz Overbeck, Fritz Mackensen and Carl Vinnen.
Another way to explore Heinrich Vogeler is to visit the Barkenhoff. From 1895 to 1923, it was the artist’s home and workplace. The exhibition there offers insights into Vogeler’s work, from his time at the Düsseldorf Art Academy through Art Nouveau and Expressionism to the new realist painting. The displays explore different artistic phases without reducing them to a single style.
The Devil’s Moor and protected landscapes
The Devil’s Moor is not only part of Worpswede’s cultural landscape. Parts of it in Osterholz district provide habitats for endangered animal and plant species, as well as a special nature experience for visitors. The Hamme lowlands also extend into Osterholz district. They are among the region’s important extensive wetlands and one of the last large-scale floodplain landscapes in northwest Germany. On the Lower Weser, Harriersand is part of a protected landscape complex in Osterholz district. These landscapes offer a different focus from the art venues: here, wetlands, floodplains and habitat protection take centre stage.
For a walk in Worpswede, the Weyerberger Sliekpad starts at the tourist information office and passes some of the artists’ village and Weyerberg’s most beautiful places. Access to the trail may vary for nature conservation reasons. If you would like to get to know the town and the Devil’s Moor better, you could also consider guided walks and cycling tours in Worpswede. The cycle network in and around Worpswede is signposted to ADFC standards and uses a numbered junction system, allowing you to tailor routes to your preferences.
More information for your stay
In summer, the Moorexpress runs through the Devil’s Moor via Worpswede between Bremen and Stade on Saturdays and public holidays. As operating days may change from year to year, it is a good idea to check the timetable before you travel. In Osterholz-Scharmbeck, the water tower offers panoramic views of the Hamme lowlands and Bremen on Sundays from May to October. Check current access arrangements before your visit. Osterholz-Scharmbeck is also home to a Benedictine convent church dating from the 12th century.
Worpswede is considered a vibrant centre of cultural life in Osterholz district. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose different focuses: the art venues lead you through collections, artists’ lives and architecture, while the routes and landscapes draw your attention to the Devil’s Moor and other protected natural areas. Which of these aspects you choose to explore further will give your trip its own focus.
Discover more destinations: Worpswede, Ritterhude, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Lilienthal, Dannenberg, Grasberg, Vollersode, Hambergen, Schwanewede, Lübberstedt.
Back to the main travel overview: Lower Saxony.
