Discover Vierhöfen

The Vierhöfen Nature Experience Centre is a destination in the Lüneburg Heath for families, groups of children and people interested in nature. On the grounds, you can experience nature in woodland, meadow and pond habitats. Nature experiences and learning come together here: alongside the habitats, the site’s profile includes an educational trail and educational programmes. If you want to plan your trip around nature, these habitats and learning opportunities form the specific focus on site.

Habitats and educational trail

Woodland, meadow and pond are the habitat types found on the grounds. The pond is fed exclusively by groundwater and precipitation. In 2026, the educational trail comprises ten stations about artificial habitats, their inhabitants and their protection. The two approaches to the nature theme differ: the habitats identify the local environments, while the educational trail focuses on artificially created habitats and their protection. This means that, alongside experiencing nature, the focus is also on specific learning content about habitats, their inhabitants and their protection.

Educational programmes and group activities

The open educational programme runs from spring to autumn and is aimed at children, students and adults. This seasonal timeframe is relevant to your planning if you would like to combine your visit with an educational programme. The range of target groups therefore extends beyond families and groups of children: the open educational programmes also include students and adults. For groups, activities may include workshops, seminars or team-building events. The grounds also provide space for yoga and meditation in nature. The educational programme, possible group activities and use of the grounds for yoga or meditation each offer a different focus within the nature-based activities.

Getting there and getting oriented

The Vierhöfen Nature Experience Centre can be reached on foot or by bicycle from Radbruch or Vierhöfen. There is limited parking for cars directly on the grounds. If you are travelling by car, take the limited parking into account when planning your visit. The site is largely accessible and has seating and toilets. This allows the journey and some practical aspects of your stay on site to be considered separately: access routes are described for pedestrians and cyclists, while parking for cars is limited.

Other features of the grounds

The Vierhöfen Nature Experience Centre reopened in August 2023, and the new facilities have been available to people interested in nature ever since. Another specific measurement on the grounds concerns the large shooting range: it is 300 metres long.

Landscape and routes in the wider destination of Harburg

In the wider destination of Harburg, the Elbe marshes, Harburg Hills, North Heath and, above all, the Lüneburg Heath shape the landscape and its distinctive cultural landscape. In the Lüneburg Heath Nature Park, moors, ancient woodlands, heathland streams and rivers are among the protected landscapes that visitors can experience. Villages with old farmsteads and thatched-roof houses are also part of this cultural landscape. Cyclists can make use of a dense network of 1,000 kilometres of signposted tourist cycle routes in the district of Harburg.

One regional hiking option is the Heidschnuckenweg, which opened in 2012. It runs for 223 kilometres from Hamburg through the districts of Harburg, Heidekreis and Celle, and through more than 30 large and small heathland areas in the North and South Heath. The route is divided into 13 stages and is complemented by twelve heathland loop trails ranging from 1.4 to 20.9 kilometres in length. The regional route selection therefore includes both a long-distance hiking trail and loops of varying lengths.

Discover more destinations: Drage, Tostedt, Heidenau, Neu Wulmstorf, Königsmoor, Scharmbeck, Winsen An Der Luhe, Otter.

Go to the wider travel overview: Harburg.