Eickeloh – Burial Mounds, Old Church and Gier Cable Ferry

Eickeloh draws attention to archaeological evidence, the history of the Old Church and the Gier Cable Ferry across the Aller. These topics offer different points of interest to help you plan your trip: the burial mounds and the church tell the story of the town’s past, while the ferry appeals to cyclists and hikers on the Aller Cycle Route. This lets you decide whether you are primarily interested in local history or an experience along the Aller.

Archaeological traces and local history

Three burial mounds lie among heathland and mixed pine forest. They are considered the last remnants of what was probably once a larger burial mound cemetery. A Neanderthal hand axe found in Eickeloh also attests to the early prehistoric use of the Eickeloh/Hademstorf area. Together, these two finds offer different perspectives: the burial mounds point to a probably larger cemetery, while the hand axe points to early use of the wider area.

The Old Church also tells of different periods in the town’s history. The Church of the Holy Cross, now known as the Old Church in Eickeloh, was donated to the people of Eickeloh by Heinrich von Hodenberg in 1296. When a larger church was built on a new site in 1887, the von Hodenberg family converted the Old Church into a family crypt. The sequence of events highlights the change in function: after being donated to the townspeople, it was used as a family crypt.

The Wartenberg played a specific role during two wars separated by a long period: during the Thirty Years’ War and the Second World War, it served as a hiding place for the people of Eickeloh from enemy troops. This story adds another perspective on the town’s past to the archaeological and church heritage.

Across the Aller on the Gier Cable Ferry

The Eickeloh Gier Cable Ferry travels between the banks of the Aller at Eickeloh and Grethem. It is powered solely by the force of the water’s current. For cyclists and hikers on the Aller Cycle Route, the crossing is highlighted as a highlight of their tour along the Aller. The current-powered propulsion is more than just a technical detail: it is part of what makes this crossing special.

Crossings for groups of 15 or more are possible by prior arrangement. If you are planning a group crossing, check in advance whether a suitable time is available. This keeps the booking requirement in your plans without assuming a specific public timetable.

More topics in the wider Heidekreis travel destination

Beyond Eickeloh, the wider Heidekreis travel destination offers more historical topics. In Munster, the German Tank Museum’s exhibition features more than 150 large exhibits and spans five halls covering more than 10,000 square metres. As exhibitions can change, it is worth checking the latest information before planning a visit. The Hof der Heidmark in Bad Fallingbostel offers another way to explore history: the building was constructed in 1642, dismantled in 1936 and rebuilt in the Liethwald forest. It is a listed building and one of the oldest buildings in the Heidekreis district.

The routes in the Heidekreis also cater to a range of interests. Miles of signposted trails lead to worthwhile destinations for cycling, hiking, Nordic walking and horse riding. This selection describes the wider regional setting; the Gier Cable Ferry remains a specific experience on the Aller between Eickeloh and Grethem. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between local historical traces and the topics of the wider travel destination.

Discover more destinations: Grethem, Hademstorf.

Go to the wider travel overview: Samtgemeinde Ahlden / Hodenhagen.