Stade’s townscape is characterized by historic houses and small alleys, which are a sight in themselves. The best way to explore the famous places is to take a walk through the city – this is the best way to soak up the flair.
Particularly worth seeing is the Mayor Hintze House at the old Hanseatic harbor. The ornate house from 1621 captivates with its Renaissance facade and offers a beautiful photo motif. The town harbor, which has existed since the Middle Ages, is also characterized by historic half-timbered buildings. From the city harbor, you can stroll along the Schwinge, Stade’s distinctive waterway, through the Hanseatic harbor to the fish market in front of our hotel. Here is a popular and lively meeting place with many cafes, restaurants and bars. Interesting to look at is the Wooden crane Stade. The current crane was designed on the model of the Lüneburg Old Crane and serves as a replacement for the old Stade salt crane from 1661, which was used for loading and unloading ships. Today’s crane is non-functional but reminiscent of the old days. Also the City scale recalls the days when the fish market was used as just that. The old half-timbered house served as a customs house from 1753 until the 19th century and is now used as a residential building. A contemporary witness was immortalized at the old Hanseatic port: The Fisherman woman statue is a likeness of Margarethe Pape, who came from a poor background and sold smelts and eels at the fish market until her death in 1952. As “Mother Flint” she was a real institution on the market. If you want to learn even more about the history of Stade, you can also take a guided tour of the city.
The oldest church in Stade is St. Wilhadi Church. The construction of the present church building dates back to the 14th century. However, the church was first mentioned in the 11th century. The three-nave, Gothic hall church is also affectionately called “the leaning tower of Stade” because the tower has a slight slant. The Eramus-Bielfeldt organ from the 18th century is also impressive. Also known for its impressive organ, St. Cosmae Church. The church with its 62 meter high octagonal tower with baroque dome is the landmark of the city of Stade. From its tower you can see as far as Hamburg if you want to take the 187 steps to the top. The interior of the church impresses with a Baroque age and elaborate carvings, sculptures and columns.
The Schwedenspeicher is located at the old Hanseatic harbor. The old building functioned as a provision house during the Swedish occupation. Since 1977, the red brick building has been a regional museum. Here you can find an interesting exhibition on the history of Stade, the Hanseatic period and archaeological finds from the region. Across the street from the Schwedenspeicher is the privately run Tree House Museum. The name indicates that in the past the entrance to the Hanseatic port was closed with a large tree. The owner of the museum exhibits a large collection of objects related to Stade’s history on the first floor of his home. Also at the Hanseatic port,art enthusiasts can visitthe Kunsthaus Stade pay a visit. In the beautiful half-timbered house there are changing, high-caliber exhibitions of well-known artists to see. For a deeper insight into North German history, it is worth visiting the Open air museum on the island. The museum is one of the oldest open-air museums in Germany. Particularly worth seeing here is the Altländer farmhouse from 1733 with its original furnishings and the Bockwindmühle. Just outside of Stade is the Agathenburg Castle. The stately castle with its beautiful castle park and dreamlike location with a view of the Elbe valley is a perfect destination for an excursion. It also serves as a cultural venue with changing exhibitions, concerts and readings.
The surroundings of Stade offer many nature-oriented excursion destinations. The largest fruit-growing area in Europe, the Alte Land, is right on the doorstep. The area with countless fruit trees, small roads and old farms is ideal for bicycle tours. In spring you drive through a sea of white and pink blossoms, and in autumn you can buy fresh fruit everywhere on the farms. Especially worthwhile are the Altländer Apple Days from September to November or the Cherry Week in July. Here you can pick and taste for yourself. Use the Randwanderbus with bicycle trailer or explore part of the Elbe Cycle Path. The landscape around Stade is also a paradise for bird lovers. In the Kehliger Land, up to 80,000 wild geese come to the Lower Elbe for feeding. Here there is a program with lectures and bird watching. Another attraction is the Vogelkieker – a double-decker bus used as a bird-watching station with a glass roof.
For a real vacation feeling, head to Stade Beach, the city beach in the center of Stade, or Bassenfleth Beach. Here, fine white sand and a shallow shore attract many excursionists to the Elbe.
If you want to breathe in the big city air, take a trip to nearby Hamburg. The Hanseatic city can be reached by ferry, but also by bus and train from Stade. A tour through the impressive harbor, marvel at the “Elphi”, store in the city center or stroll along the Alster – Hamburg has a lot to offer!
Life in Stade is life with and on the water. The four nearby marinas are especially interesting for sailors. Those who want to explore the waterways of Stade and the Alte Land in a relaxed way can book a Tidenkieker trip through the Schwinge or take a tour on one of the fleet barges. A special experience is a gondola ride with an original Venetian gondola through the moat of Stade. If you like to paddle yourself, rent a canoe, kayak or a stand-up paddle board. A canoe trip with a picnic in the Alte Land makes a great family outing.
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