Lower Saxony has a clear regional structure, which manifests itself both in landscape conditions as well as in historical, traditional-denominational and cultural lines of development.
In the formerly independent subdivisions Braunschweig, Hannover, Oldenburg and Schaumburg, especially in their core areas, one often finds pronounced local patriotism until today, as well as in East Frisia and in the traditionally Roman Catholic regions Emsland, Eichsfeld and Oldenburger Münsterland.
Despite rough wind and low temperatures it was a nice balance to leave house for a walk. During the coffee break our conversation had led to the topic about the so much different Christmas markets in Germany.
Green City Jever - not without reason Jever is named as the green city because the town is heavily influenced by the five elongated moats with its ancient trees that once surrounded the historic center as a moat protective layer.
Regardless from which side of the old town of Jever you are approaching, always the bell tower as the second tallest building in town is in the center of the image.
Due to local law situation and in return for huge amount of new construction areas, other areas have to be given back to nature as green land.
Early in the morning the weather forecast had warned of fog banks and freezing drizzle, which in the north often can quickly lead to incalculable ice on the roads.
It is next to the beer known as one of the landmarks of the city Jever in Frisia and shows a variety of artifacts about the city and the surrounding history of the past centuries: the Castle Museum in Jever's Castle.
One of the numerous North German legends states that the emergence of the Zwischenahner Meer was a devil's work (Düwelswark).
Our trip to the north had brought us again to the road of megalithic culture, one of the holiday streets in Germany and as such the Lower Saxony section of the "Megalithic Routes".
The “Road of Megalithic Culture” connects Osnabrück and Oldenburg in 33 stations, the most impressive and best preserved Neolithic megalithic tombs of northwest Germany.
Our tour through the north of Germany had led us, next to the visit of the still relatively "young" Museum and Park Kalkriese as the presumed site of the Varus Battle (we will report later) to the Ahlhorner Heide at Wildeshausen next to the local megalithic tombs from the time period between 3500 - 2800 BC.
To the northwest of the Castle, in the center of Oldenburg, the architecturally wonderful building of St. Lambert's Church can be visited that is often referred to holy St. Lamberti.
In front of the incomparable historical skyline of the old town of Osnabrück one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany in the city centre was presented to us.
After our walk through the fishing village of Greetsiel, we went back to Emden, where a short tour through the city, should end our day trip to Ostfriesland completed by Laura.
Our stay in Friesland had extended more than originally planned due to the extended visiting program, but there were many really interesting encounters with the local culture, which let the time flying by.
Enjoy your winter holiday in the Harz Mountains and discover our cross-country skiing routes. Regardless of whether you are a ski pro, a hiker or a beginner - here you are guaranteed to find something suitable.
And if it is just an artificial waterfall, we have taken the path from the peat house in the direction of Goslar for a little stop in icy cold conditions , after all minus 17 degrees, just to take a look at the equivalent of the Romkerhaller waterfall.
Our early spring tour high in the cold north of Germany was finished and we decided for a short trip to the Harz Nature Park on the way back, a small stopover, which should interrupt the journey and at the same time convey further impressions.
After driving along the Oker Reservoir we had driven up to the mountain town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, where we wanted to look at the now fully restored Market Church of the Holy Spirit.