Gorleben on the Elbe

Gorleben lies directly on the left bank of the Elbe at river kilometre 492. The river is therefore a clear geographical reference point when choosing a destination. A marina with 40 berths is located at the Gorlebener Haken, a former branch of the Elbe. The number may change. If you include the marina in your plans, check the current figure in advance. Forests and heathland offer additional ways to spend the day beyond the river itself.

Nature between the Elbe and the forest

The protected Elbe landscape of the Lower Saxony Elbe Valley Biosphere Reserve extends to the east, north and northwest of Gorleben. To the south lies the Gartower Tannen pine forest. The river landscape and forest thus provide different points of orientation around the town. White-tailed eagles and red kites are found in the area; storks raise their young there in summer. Sightings of individual birds are not guaranteed.

Cycling routes and Nemitzer Heide

There are numerous cycling routes in the forested areas around Gorleben. If you would like to include Nemitzer Heide as a destination, you can cycle there from Gorleben on signposted routes along the Elbe-Heide-Tour. Numerous circular cycling routes in the heath pass through heathland, forest, meadows and agricultural landscapes. Open dunes and extensive nutrient-poor grasslands are also characteristic of Nemitzer Heide. The route from Gorleben to the heath and the local circular routes offer different options for planning your journey. Check the signs and trail conditions before setting off.

The Heidehaus, with its information exhibition, is located by the cycle path and the car park at Nemitzer Heide. If you plan to visit, check the current opening arrangements in advance. Another regional route is Section F of the Elbe Cycle Route, which runs for 75 kilometres from Hitzacker (Elbe) to Wittenberge. Its endpoints make it distinct from the signposted route to Nemitzer Heide. Also check for possible diversions before setting off.

Exploring on foot

Gorleben also offers horse-riding and hiking trails, and nature experiences are possible even on short walks. This means that, alongside cycling tours, shorter walks are another option in the area. Before setting out on a specific route, check trail conditions and local access.

Culture in the wider destination of Lüchow-Dannenberg

If you would like to include cultural attractions as well as landscapes and outdoor activities, the wider destination of Lüchow-Dannenberg offers further points of interest. The Wendland Round Barn Museum in the round-village of Lübeln features a farmstead as an open-air museum. Traditional crafts are brought to life there in the pottery, blacksmith’s shop, bakehouse and wheelwright’s workshop. In Hitzacker, the Archaeological Centre is an open-air museum on a site that was already in use around 4,000 years ago. Three reconstructed longhouses and numerous interactive stations give visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of early people. These examples complement Gorleben’s river, forest and heathland setting with cultural themes in the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Prezelle, Lübbow, Jameln, Neu Darchau, Leisten, Trebel, Göhrde, Bredenbock

View the overview of the wider destination: Lüchow-Dannenberg.