Ummern: Village History and Rural Character

If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Ummern, it helps to consider the character of the village and the themes of the wider region. The historic circular village is shaped by village history and agriculture. The Südheide adds a focus on nature and cycling routes to this local perspective. This makes it possible to understand Ummern as a destination with a rural character and historical points of interest.

Village History and Getting Your Bearings in Ummern

Ummern is a historic circular village. Its original settlement site appears to have been inhabited even earlier. Small Kötner houses, built after the 1790 fire, are an important part of the village’s history. These houses are why Ummern was added to the list of art monuments of the former district of Celle in 1970. The village’s festival history also goes back a long way: Ummern’s first Schützenfest (marksmen’s festival) was held in 1707. The houses point to the history of building after the fire, while the date of the festival reflects an early local tradition.

Built in 1970/72, the 120-metre-high telecommunications tower is a prominent landmark. Herzogsbrunnen, a natural spring, is also near Ummern. Together with the circular village and its historic houses, these named places offer different points of reference for exploring Ummern’s history and character.

Agriculture and the Landscape of the Südheide

Ummern’s agricultural landscape includes grain, potatoes, sugar beets and dairy cows; maize cultivation is on the rise. Crop farming and livestock farming thus shape local agriculture, while the growing cultivation of maize reflects a change in what is grown. This offers a different perspective on the village than its architectural history: Ummern can also be understood through the use of its rural landscape.

The Südheide is mostly flat and offers themed cycling routes as well as nature trails. Walks in the region lead through heathland, meadows, fields and forests. Regional specialities of the Südheide include asparagus, blueberries and Lüneburg Heath potatoes. These landscape and food themes provide a broader regional context for planning your trip.

An airfield lies on the edge of the Südheide, near Ummern. In good weather, gliding is offered there on weekends from March to October. If you’re planning to go gliding, check the current dates and weather conditions before your trip. Gasthaus Thölke is Ummern’s oldest surviving business. If you’re planning to visit, check its current opening hours in advance.

The Wider Region: Gifhorn

Beyond Ummern, Gifhorn district encompasses heathland, forests, moorlands, rivers and lakes. The Drömling, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is also part of Gifhorn. These natural areas add a broader destination perspective to the themes of the village.

The cycling network in Gifhorn district includes around 700 kilometres of leisure cycling routes, plus around 550 kilometres of everyday cycling routes with connecting links. Around 400 signposted nodes can be combined to plan cycling routes to suit your needs. The figures distinguish between leisure cycling routes and everyday connections, providing different approaches to planning routes in the district.

Another regional cultural highlight is the International Wind and Watermill Museum in Gifhorn. It features 13 full-size original mills from around the world. Along with its landscapes and cycling network, the museum shows that the wider region offers culture as well as nature and cycling themes.

Discover more destinations: Meine, Gifhorn, Wilsche, Bokensdorf, Behren, Tiddische, Sassenburg, Vollbüttel.

Back to the main travel overview: Gifhorn.