Emsland

Horse-drawn carriages and horse-drawn carts as a way to explore the Emsland region 

The Emsland region, a cyclist-friendly area, is located in western Lower Saxony. Until 2004, there was very little tourist traffic here. Moors and peat bogs characterized the area south of Papenburg until the construction of the A31 was completed. This closed the gap to the Ruhr region, and the area began to attract increasing attention. With this expansion of infrastructure, not only did economic activity and industry grow, but so did the demand for tourism. Today, a 3,000-kilometer network of bike paths attracts recreational cyclists to the flat countryside of northwestern Germany and delights both casual and long-distance cyclists with idyllic rides along the riverbanks. “Low German” is a fitting keyword here: in the Emsland region, Low German is still widely spoken.

The Ems region is just 158 kilometers away from Hanover, where people speak High German. But whether you speak High German or Low German, one thing is clear: for a day trip—for example, to the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, where a few cruise ships are built every year, or to the baroque castle in Clemenswerth—the Emsland district offers perfect conditions. If you prefer, you can also make the trip by bike in two days. The quickest way is via the A3 highway—in just under 3 hours.