Steinau: Canals, Church and Sietland

Drainage ditches alongside the roads shape Steinau just as much as its landscape. In the southern part, the Hadelner Canal, its adjoining dikes and towpaths are characteristic features of the town; moorland and woodland areas extend to the south and southwest. The town’s church history, local culture and brewery also offer different perspectives. You can get a sense of Steinau through its landscape, nature-related features, and history of buildings and events.

Landscape, Settlement and Nature

A settlement core lies around the church in Lauentheil and Glind; Steinau is also characterised by extensive roadside development. The drainage ditches are not just a landscape feature, but also shape the townscape. In the south of Steinau, the canal, dikes and towpaths are the defining features; moorland and woodland areas lie to the south and southwest.

For nature enthusiasts, two aspects should be distinguished: the Steinau–Alte Aue project area lies southwest of Steinau, between Lauentheil and Süderwesterseite. It is a breeding area for meadow birds of state and local importance. In the Sietland as a whole, lapwing, redshank, Eurasian curlew and common snipe are among the meadow birds for which the area is a traditional breeding ground.

Another specific landscape project is the restoration at Steinau-Norderende: from 2018 to 2020, species-rich marsh grassland and traditional ditch structures were restored there. Together with the drainage ditches and the canal-shaped landscape in the south, this illustrates both the general form of the landscape and a restoration project completed within a specific period.

Church and Culture in Steinau

The church in Steinau was recorded as a parish church in 1245 and described as one of the older churches in the Sietland; the historical reference also gives the name Stenove. St. John the Baptist is a half-timbered building erected in 1835. The church houses a wooden baptismal font with a pewter bowl dating from 1733. The organ was built by Georg Wilhelm in 1839 and restored by Hillebrand in 1991. It is considered a late example of North German organ building. The dates mark different chapters: the early church record, the half-timbered building, and the construction and restoration of the organ.

Cultural life includes several types of events. The Kleiner Kulturkreis Steinau (Steinau Cultural Circle) organises cabaret, theatre and readings. Small art exhibitions are occasionally held in the Holzschuhmacherhaus (wooden shoemaker’s house). Steinau also celebrates the Frühtanz every year at Whitsun. If you would like to combine your stay with a specific event, check the dates in advance.

Brewery and Local Character

The Steinau brewery has brewing equipment for brewing, fermenting, bottling and cooling beer. Local beer is produced under the name Alte Aue, including Pilsner and wheat beer. The brewery’s activities thus include both the technical steps involved in making beer and a locally named product.

Two practical features are also noted: an accessible entrance route leads to the brewery. There is a snack vending machine at the front, accessible to everyone, including cyclists passing by. These details add practical information about the brewery to the landscape and cultural themes, without implying that the brewing equipment is a visitor attraction.

Discover more destinations: Neuhaus, Hemmoor, Börde Lamstedt, Land Wursten, Wremen, Hagen Im Bremischen, Geestland, Ringstedt.

For the main travel overview: Cuxhaven.