A world of its own: Winter in northern Germany's Lueneburg heath

Feb 16, 2010, 12:15 GMT

Hamburg - A stroll through the gardens of the Heidekastell Iserhatsche castle in the northern German town of Bispingen is sufficient in itself, and vacationers in the process have become slightly wiser.

Inscribed black-on-white on the beams of the covered walkway are such sayings as 'A judgement can be disproved, a prejudice never' or 'If you will it, you can do it.'

Iserhatsche owner Uwe Schulz-Ebschbach calls his residence the 'Neuschwanstein of the North' - a reference to the world-renowned fairytale castle in southern Germany's Bavarian Alps. With thousands of tiny details he has created a fairy tale world.

The Iserhatsche is, however, just one possibility for immersing oneself in a different world in the heath region known as the Lueneburger Heide.

For some time now the region in the triangle of the cities of Hamburg, Hanover and Bremen has succeeded in expanding its tourism season beyond the late-summer when the heath is in full bloom.

One-fifth of the some 5 million overnight stays each year are recorded in the November-February period. Even in the more rainy months visitors can 'easily fill up three to four days' worth of activity, contends Lueneburger Heide Tourism company managing director Ulrich von dem Bruch.

The towns of Lueneburg and Celle for example are worth an excursion, both having attractive old town centres. Bispingen and Soltau are further good starting-points for quickly reaching the heath region's winter attractions.

A bit of the world of the snowy Alps is awaiting ski freaks in the Snow Dome outside Bispingen. The indoor ski slope offers a 300-metre downhill run. Right next to it is the Ralf Schumacher go-kart race track.

For the entire family, there is a swimming paradise in the Centre Parc Bispingen, while in the town of Wiezendorf, the Suedseecamp (South Seas camp) offers a balmy atmosphere of palm trees and aquatic fun.

Those interested in the animal world should head to the wildlife parks of the region, such as the one at Nindorf-Hanstedt, where deer, wolves and bears roam.

Similarly quiet in the cold winter season is the wildlife park Schwarze Berge further north in Rosengarten, where pot-bellied pigs graze at the feet of visitors. Especially worth visiting is a new natural fenced-in preserve for the bears.

If you dress warmly, then a hike through the region's forests with their rich earthy smell is rewarding. One such forest is the Boehmewald near Soltau.

Childhood memories might come rushing back in the Toy Museum of Soltau, where visitors can look at the playthings of children going back four centuries.

The metre-high doll house Dingley Hall, dating to 1875, or the mischievous-looking dolls from the world-famous Steiff collection, teddy bears, model trains - all these and other toy attractions await to be discovered the rooms of the 600 square metres of the museum.

A change of pace for dreary days can be found in two thermal baths - one in the spa town of Bad Bevensen, the other in Soltau.

The iodine-salt thermal bath on the eastern edge of the heath region and the Soltau thermal bath in the middle of the region await visitors with a comprehensive offering of wellness, sauna and swimming recreation.