Bispingen

Understand

The Heath is a very popular German tourist destination and recreation area for the big cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover, and Bispingen lies right at the heart of it on the sleepy little River Luhe and a good 15 km northeast of the next largest town, Soltau. Bispingen has been developed to cater for the expanding tourist market and features Snow dome, Ralf Schumacher's Go-Kart hall and a Centre Parcs village on the outskirts. But it also lies within the Lüneburg Heath Nature Park with its quaint farming villages, forests and rolling heathlands grazed by moorland sheep (Heidschnucken), all linked by a network of signposted trails and cycleways.

Getting there

By plane Bispingen is little more than a one-hour drive from the international airports of Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover Bispingen is accessible from the airport at Hanover which is a main international airport with regular flights from all over the world with services to most European capitals and major cities. The airport is 11 km north of Hanover centre and has easy access to the autobahn. It is the ninth largest airport in Germany and is one of very few German airports which are open 24 hours a day, although there are few flights between 23:00 and 04:00. There is also an international airport in Bremen which has many of the budget airlines operating regular flights to most European countries. The airport is close to the city centre, and there is a tram which departs every 5 to 10 minutes (on Sunday evenings up to 30 min) to Bremen city centre. The journey takes 11 minutes and costs €2.30. This airport is also close to the autobahn links but is a 116-km journey to Bispingen. Hamburg International Airport is approximately 8 km and is the fifth busiest airport in Germany. The Hamburg S-Bahn system Line 1 connects the airport with the main Bahnhof in Hamburg city centre in about 25 min (€3, Dec 2019). The airport is 68 km away from Bispingen and will take approximately 50 minutes by car. It is still a viable alternative to Hanover and Bremen airports.

By train The nearest mainline railway station is Soltau, which has regular bus services to Bispingen. Soltau runs Regionalbahn (RB) trains. Trains run from Soltau from roughly 05:00-22:00. It is possible to get to Soltau from Hanover, Bremen and Hamburg.

By car Bispingen is easy to get to by road, lying 2 km off the A7 motorway from Hanover to Hamburg, at junction 43 "Bispingen". Access from Hanover would be via the A7 exiting at junction 43 "Bispingen", the journey is 100 km and will take approximately 45 minutes. Driving from Bremen (westerly direction) will be on the autobahn A27 which connects to the A7 to t

Getting around

The town of Bispingen is small enough to walk or cycle around, but some of the sights are a car or bus drive away. Taxis are available from:

taxi Kohlmeyer, Borsteler Str. 5, ☏ +49 5194 97980. Taxi Rathie, Vor den Höfen 4A, ☏ +49 5194 1500. Rental bikes are available from:

Hotel Rieckmann Bike Rental, Kirchweg 1-2, ☏ +49 5194 9510. Bike per day: €11; E-Bike per day: €25. (updated Apr 2020)

See

Parks Wilsede (park at Undeloh or Niederhaverbeck and follow the signed trails or take a horse-drawn cart). One of the highlights of the Lüneburg Heath, Wilsede's popularity stems from its charm as one of the few relatively unspoilt heath villages as well as its proximity to the Wilseder Berg, the heath's highest hill. As a result this tiny village of under 40 souls, receives over 100,000 visitors each summer. Since motor vehicles are banned unless you live here, most of them arrive on foot, by bicycle or on one of the many horse-drawn carts that ply the area from the nearest public car parks at Niederhaverbeck and Undeloh. The village is home to a heath museum (Dat ole Hus - see below) as well as a cafe, restaurant and shop selling typical heathland products. Wilseder Berg (park at Undeloh or Niederhaverbeck and follow the signed trails or take a horse-drawn cart). The Wilseder Berg is the Lüneburg Heath's highest point. Despite being all of 169 metres high, on a clear day it has outstanding views in all directions over the heath landscape. In good conditions the spires of Hamburg are said to be visible. At the top is a brass plaque on a pedestal which indicates the direction of various cities, towns and other points of interest. The hill is only accessible on foot or by horse and cart. The nearest car parks are at Niederhaverbeck and Undeloh from where there are trails and cart rides. Iserhatsche, Nöllestraße 40, 29646 Bispingen, ☏ +49 5194-1206. April-Oct 10:00-20:00, Nov-Feb 11:00-16:00. A landscape garden with hunting villa and Montagnetto model castle. Amazingly decorated buildings both in and out with a restaurant available. €8 for children, €12 for adults. Brunausee, Verkehrsverein Behringen, Mühlenstraße, 29646 Bispingen - Behringen, ☏ +49 5194-830. From 10:00 for attractions. The 7-hectre Brunausee is a perfect setting for a day out during the summer. With a beach area and 3-km orbital walkway the small lake offers the chance of a swim or sun bath

Do

Sport 1 Snow Dome Bispingen, Horstfeldweg 9 (Just off the A7 motorway. Take the Bispingen exit), ☏ +49 5194 - 4311-0. M-F 13:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-21:00, Su 09:00-19:00. Go skiing all year round at this superb indoor ski slope equipped with a 300-m slope and snowboard park served by a six-seater chairlift and a slope open for sledging enthusiasts. Other services include children's slope, skiing school, equipment rental, shop and Bavarian-style restaurant. In outdoor area open in summer season the visitors can try out the "Nord Welle", Europe’s biggest standing wave, slack line and skating ramp. Equally good for warming up before a skiing holiday or just for a fun day out. Day ticket €36; 6-12 yr €22. Reductions and deals available. Ralf Schumacher Kart and Bowl, Horstfeldweg 5 (just off the A7 motorway (Bispingen exit)), ☏ +49 5194 98205-0. Hours vary, but generally: M closed, Tu-Th 15:00-22:00, F 15:00-23:00, Sa 10:00-23:00, Su 10:00-21:00. Go karting at Ralf Schumacher's Kart and Bowl centre. Expensive but fun! €12.50 for 10 min, slight reductions for longer periods; 8-11 yrs €8 for 8 min. Quad Barn, H.-J. Holst, Am Brunausee, ☏ +49 4284-1691. April–June: 13:00-17:00, July–August: 11:00-20:00, Sep-Oct 13:00-17:00. For children over 8. A 500-m-long sand track with a variety of quads available at differing prices based on time. 10 minutes €9 pro quad, more than six persons 30 minutes €19 pro quad, 60 minutes €38 pro quad. Luhetalbad, Förderverein Luhetalbad e.V., Trift 19, 29646 Bispingen, ☏ +49 5194-974239. A stadt pool with both indoor and out door pools. Availability of the pools is seasonal and there are lessons and classes available. From €1.80 for a child and €2.60 for an adult.

Local attractions Centre Parc Bispingen, Töpinger Straße 69, 29646 Bispingen, ☏ +49 519 49 40. The park is in the middle of the countryside in the Lüneburger Heide region. Sports lovers will have their fill of extreme s