Northern Germany holds pleasant surprises for the traveller. In addition to the Fairy Tales Route, Hamburg and its bridges, the Altes Land region is one of the highlights.
Considered “The Jewel of the North”, Altes Land is full of many natural beauties, with robust flora and bucolic landscapes. In addition to the medieval architecture, present in most small towns in Germany, Altes Land has the great title of being the region with the highest fruit production in the country, thanks to its climate and moist soil.
Incorporating so many wonders, in this tourist region, there is no lack of attractions and beauty: this is Altes Land. Let’s talk a little more about the three main cities in the region: Buxtehude, Stade, and Jork.
Buxtehude
Also present in the Fairy Tales Route, being the first town on the route. For lovers of medieval architecture and history, this city is also a fruitful place, where they will find the Marschtorzwinger, the only defensive tower of the ancient wall that surrounded the preserved city, and the only one still standing in northern Germany. The part of the “old city” found in Buxtehude is a journey back in time, where much has been preserved.
Among the historical points found in the cities, the port is certainly the one that stands out, where in the past it played a fundamental role in local development, especially because the city was part of the Hanseatic League, which consisted of the alliance of free-market cities in northern Europe, especially those close to the North and Baltic Seas.
Another interesting curiosity about Buxtehude is that it is also part of the European Route of Gothic Brick, which covers ancient cities with a great influence of Gothic architecture and even today preserve these buildings, where we can, in a superficial way, especially characterized by the bricks red or even white, on the facades of buildings, along with other Gothic features.
As in Hamburg, the region is well served by water sources, being considered swampy, which causes many streams, streams, and bridges and facilitates fruit production, as mentioned at the beginning of the post. In Buxtehude, apple production is strong and traditional.
Stade
Also a member of the Hanseatic League, Stade’s history goes back a thousand years, and it’s not just its small-town charm that has been preserved. Some of the structures in its port are one of the oldest in all of Europe, dating back to the 13th century, and in its historic center, we can find most of its attractions.
For those interested in maritime history, the Schwedenspeicher-Museum is a great choice during the tour. This museum, which can be called the “Swedish Museum of Warehouses” tells us the history of the port, city development, as well as the Hanseatic period. Its large wooden harbor crane, originally built in 1661 and later rebuilt, is a must-see for the traveler.
Although, over time, Stade lost the spotlight to Hamburg, its commercial and expansion heyday was enough to build the ornate and dazzling buildings that we can still visit today. Fruit production is also present there, where you can visit the plantations, pick and taste the fruits directly from the tree.
Jork
Along the same lines as the cities of Altes Land, Jork is a delight for lovers of the charm of small historic towns, who know how to preserve their past to welcome visitors in the present. With its half-timbered houses, a historic center with buildings that are real treasures, there is also a tradition of fruit production, especially cherries.
The city of Jork’s relationship with cherries is old and close, and the inhabitants knew how to maintain this legacy. To this day, the first weekend in May takes place at the Altländer Blossom Festival, where the queen of flowers from Altländer is crowned.
Less than an hour from Hamburg, this region is a great option for visitors staying in Hamburg, knowing a totally different side of the north seen in Hamburg, the small-town atmosphere, with historic buildings, lots of tradition and fruitful production.
