Lohheide: Bergen-Belsen Memorial and Nature

Bergen-Belsen Memorial: Places of remembrance on a historic site

A documentation centre was built on the site of the former Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. There, visitors receive detailed information about the events of that time. More than 70,000 people died on the camp grounds by 1945. The historical context and the number of victims set a solemn tone for the visit: the memorial is a place to remember and engage with history.

On the historic camp grounds, nine relief models explain the individual camp areas. They are accompanied by 17 steles with brief texts and photographs providing information about the camp’s history and individual buildings. The models illustrate the layout of the camp areas, while the steles add written and photographic information. Visitors can thus encounter different forms of historical interpretation across the site.

People who died in the concentration camp during the final weeks before liberation and immediately afterwards are buried there, in 14 mass graves and 15 individual graves. A prominent landmark of the memorial is the obelisk with its inscription wall. Both were erected at the request of the British military administration and inaugurated in November 1952. The wall bears inscriptions from many countries, as well as inscriptions in Yiddish, Hebrew and Latin.

Near the former main entrance to the camp grounds, the foundations of a disinfection building have been preserved. They were secured and reinforced in 2016. The House of Silence is also located on the Bergen-Belsen Memorial site. This accessible sculpture was dedicated in 2000 as a place for quiet reflection. Preserved foundations and a specially designed place for reflection offer different points of focus on the historic site.

Walks in Bürgerpark

Bürgerpark in Lohheide offers a different focus. It invites visitors to experience nature on long walks. In contrast to the memorial’s historical significance, the walk itself can shape your stay here. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you want the memorial to be the main focus, whether walks in nature should set the pace, or whether you would like to include both. This choice can also guide your search for a holiday apartment for your stay in Lohheide.

More nature experiences in the Celle destination area

If you include the wider Celle destination area in your plans, the Südheide Nature Park offers more opportunities to spend time outdoors. Ten signposted themed cycling routes cover a total of more than 400 kilometres, passing notable sights and travelling through heathland, forests, heathland streams, and moorland and pond landscapes. For walking, the nature park has 23 themed trails, five discovery trails and three long-distance hiking trails. There are different types of routes to choose from, from themed cycling routes to longer hiking trails.

Another activity in the Celle destination area is canoeing on the heathland streams in Celle district. It is permitted, subject to restrictions, every year from 16 May to 14 October. Check local restrictions and water levels before setting out. These activities can give your plans in the Celle destination area a focus of their own; in Lohheide, the main attractions are the Bergen-Belsen Memorial and walks in Bürgerpark. Guide your search for a holiday apartment by which of these travel experiences matters most to you.

Discover more destinations: Wietze, Hambühren, Habighorst, Bergen, Wathlingen, Celle, Oldendorf, Weyhausen.

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