Altes Land Bicycle Tour

Explore Hamburg's blooming landscape by bike.

"Altes Land" is a stretch of land in the southwest of Hamburg, which also extends into Lower Saxony. Germany's largest contiguous fruit-growing area is surrounded by gentle meadows and countless arms of water. Mighty dikes protect the marshland from storm surges. The inhabitants owe their wealth to their Dutch ancestors, who drained marshes to create fertile land.

This landscape is excellent to explore by bicycle. The starting point for the bicycle tour to the Alte Land is Blankenese, from where a ferry leaves for the other side of the Elbe. Even before the ferry crossing to Cranz, you can discover some highlights in the district of Blankenese. These include the Hamburg Elbe beach and the staircase district. From Blankenese, the Elbe ferry line HBEL departs from Blankenese to Cranz, at the ferry dock in Blankenese you have a view of the Blankenese lighthouse.

Good to know: The Elbe ferry is part of the HVV, so you can cross to Cranz with a ticket for public transport or the HamburgCARD.

Once in Cranz, a stop at the Gasthaus zur Post is a good idea. There you can enjoy seasonal specialties and drinks. The journey continues to the Aurora windmill in Borstel. The old windmill is now over 165 years old and houses a restaurant. Next we go to the fruit nature trail in Jork. Here you can learn all about fruit growing, the history and some facts about the characteristics of the different varieties. The fruit nature trail is especially beautiful at blossom and harvest time. Fruit also plays a theme at the next stop, because from the fruit nature trail the tour leads to Herzapfelhof Lühs. There everything revolves around the apple harvest and in the on-site farm store you can browse through the organic assortment. The last stop is the organic fruit farm Königreich. The farm is located in Klein Hove, a small town on the Este River. It's worth exploring Klein Hove a bit on your own, because here you feel a bit like you're in the Netherlands. You will find small bridges, old farmhouses and windmills. From Klein Hove you can walk along the Este through the villages of Königreich and Leeswig back to the ferry terminal in Cranz.

ATreppenviertel Blankenese

The Blankenese Treppenviertel offers its residents a delightful view of the Elbe and of the passing ships.

Treppenviertel Blankenese

Address

22587 Blankenese

Blankenese

22587 Blankenese

scholle-gasthof-zur-post-c-pixabay-melly17 — © pixabay/Melly17

The "Gasthaus zur Post Cranz" is a cosy, family-run establishment with a long tradition and offers seasonal specialities in a relaxed atmosphere.

Gasthaus zur Post

Address

Estedeich 88
21129 Cranz

Opening hours Open

Wed11:30 - 20:30
Thu11:30 - 20:30
Fri11:30 - 20:30
Sat11:30 - 20:30
Sun11:30 - 20:30

Gasthaus zur Post

Estedeich 88
21129 Cranz

windmuehle-aurora-borstel-route-altes-land-c-unsplash-ingo-doerrie — © Unsplash/Ingo Doerrie

The windmill "Aurora" has stood in Jork since 1856. The former grain mill is 24 metres high and was transformed into a restaurant in 1993.

Windmill Aurora in Borstel

Address

Am Elbdeich 1
21635 Jork

Windmühle Aurora in Borstel

Am Elbdeich 1
21635 Jork

apfelbluete_altes-land_c-tourismusverein-altes-land-ev — © Tourismusverein Altes Land e.V.

apfelbluete-mit-biene_c-tourismusverein-altes-land-ev — © Tourismusverein Altes Land e.V.

altes-land_frostschutz-blueten_c-sven-mirow-photography — © Sven Miro Photography / Tourismusverein Altes Land e.V.

tag-des-offenen-hofes_c-tourismusverein-altes-land-ev — © Tourismusverein Altes Land e.V.

On 1.5 kilometres the fruit cultivation, the history and some peculiarities of the varieties are explained. Between the apple and cherry orchards you can not only learn the theory, but also watch the farmers and bees at work.

Obstlehrpfad Jork - Fruit Trail

Address

Westerminnerweg
21635 Jork

Opening hours Open

Tue11:00 - 17:00
Wed11:00 - 17:00
Thu11:00 - 17:00
Fri11:00 - 17:00
Sat14:00 - 17:00
Sun11:00 - 17:00

Obstlehrpfad Jork

Westerminnerweg
21635 Jork

herzapfelhof-luehs-route-c-unsplash-nathan-hulsey — © Unsplash/Nathan Hulsey

herzapfelhof-route-altes-land-c-unsplash-ana-essentiels — © Unsplash/Ana Essentiels

Discover nature: At the Herzapfelhof you can experience how fruit is grown and harvested in harmony with nature. Old tradition and the highest organic standards meet here.

Herzapfelhof Lühs

Address

Osterjork 102
21635 Jork

Opening hours Open

Mon08:00 - 18:00
Tue08:00 - 18:00
Wed08:00 - 18:00
Thu08:00 - 18:00
Fri08:00 - 19:30
Sat08:00 - 18:00
Sun10:00 - 18:00

Herzapfelhof Lühs

Osterjork 102
21635 Jork

bio-obsthof-koenigreich-pflaumen-c-pixabay-brumarotta — © Pixabay/ Brumarotta

Klein Hove is a small village on the Este. The Obstmarschenweg runs along it.

Klein Hove

Address

Königreicher Straße 13
21635 Jork

Opening hours Temporarily closed

Wed15:00 - 18:00
Sat09:00 - 13:00

Bio-Obsthof Königreich

Königreicher Straße 13
21635 Jork

Altes Land

Explore Hamburg's blooming landscape by bike.

ATreppenviertel Blankenese

Treppenviertel Blankenese

Address

Blankenese

BGasthaus zur Post

Gasthaus zur Post

Address

Opening hours Open

Gasthaus zur Post

CWindmill Aurora in Borstel

Windmill Aurora in Borstel

Address

Windmühle Aurora in Borstel

DObstlehrpfad Jork - Fruit Trail

Obstlehrpfad Jork - Fruit Trail

Address

Opening hours Open

Obstlehrpfad Jork

EHerzapfelhof Lühs

Herzapfelhof Lühs

Address

Opening hours Open

Herzapfelhof Lühs

FKlein Hove

Klein Hove

Address

Opening hours Temporarily closed

Bio-Obsthof Königreich

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