Nordstemmen: Art, Churches and Landscape

Nordstemmen can be explored through several distinct themes: creative activities, church art and landscape. When planning a stay, you can decide whether events and hands-on activities, local history or time in the countryside are your main priorities. Options range from the Art Factory to the churches in Burgstemmen and the forests and hilly terrain in the surrounding area.

Creative Activities and Events

The Art Factory in Nordstemmen offers activities such as painting, children’s painting, drawing workshops, sewing and knitting. The range therefore spans both visual and textile arts. Check the current course dates before visiting. Gallery spaces on the ground floor are available for exhibitions, concerts and readings; the events programme may change. So if a particular event is important to your trip, it is worth checking the latest information. The site also includes a 700-square-metre garden used for outdoor activities and celebrations. The gallery spaces and garden offer different settings for cultural activities, both indoors and out.

Churches and Local History

The churches in Burgstemmen offer contrasting historical features. St. Michaelis was built in the Romanesque style around 1200 and has preserved its original vault. High Romanesque murals adorn the apse, while Renaissance paintings can be found on the ceiling. The art-historical features are thus spread across the vault, walls and ceiling—a reason to consider more than just the church’s approximate date of construction. St. Joseph’s Church in Burgstemmen houses an original Furtwängler organ from 1881 and is used for cultural events. While St. Michaelis is defined by its architecture and paintings, the focus at St. Joseph is on the organ and its use for cultural events. As event programmes may change, check the latest dates if you have a particular visit in mind.

Seven historic information boards at various locations in Nordstemmen explain the history of each site. Alongside the history of individual churches, they also highlight the history and past of various places.

Landscape and Historic Sites

Extensive forests and hilly landscapes stretch around Nordstemmen and can be explored on foot or by bicycle. While the churches and information boards focus on individual historic sites, the emphasis here is on the landscape. This offers a different perspective on the area from exploring individual buildings.

The more than 1,000-year-old Poppenburg Castle stands above the Leine near Nordstemmen, in Burgstemmen. Also in Burgstemmen, at the southern edge of the village, is Andrea-Hilse-Park. It covers about 15 hectares and was created as a landscape park on a former sand-mining site. The two places have different historical connections: the Poppenburg is notable for its age and position above the Leine, while the park reflects the transformation of land previously used for sand mining.

Marienburg Castle belongs to Pattensen and stands on the Marienberg above the Leine. The view of the castle from Nordstemmen is considered the best.

Discover more destinations: Marienhagen, Brüggen, Giesen, Holle, Nettlingen, Bockenem, Elze, Ahrbergen

Go to the main travel overview: Hildesheim.