Discover Salzgitter

Enjoy the water and nature

Lake Salzgitter is the water sports centre of southeastern Lower Saxony. It covers 75 hectares and stretches 2,120 metres from north to south. Sailing, windsurfing, rowing and canoeing are among the activities available on the lake. It is therefore an obvious choice for anyone looking to combine their stay with water sports.

Heerter See offers a different kind of nature experience: the 272-hectare site of former settling pond 3 is a nature reserve. The protected area also includes a small remnant of the former woodland. A hiking tour is possible around the Heerter See nature reserve and European bird sanctuary, and is described as a special experience for nature lovers. The waterside landscape and the protected area offer different focuses – sporting activities on the lake or a nature walk.

Hiking and views near Salzgitter-Bad

Salzgitter-Bad is nestled in the Salzgitter Hills and is considered a good starting point for long hikes through varied natural landscapes. The Bismarck Tower is one of the viewpoints mentioned; from there, you can enjoy views of the northern Harz foothills. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors will find a different way to explore the region here than by the water.

The Bismarck Tower was built in 1900 on the 272-metre-high Hamberg. Its four platforms are reached via two flights of stairs: 24 stone steps lead to the first platform, followed by another 57 wooden steps to the top. The tower is one of three Bismarck towers made of metal, but it is not entirely metal. Details about its materials and steps also make this viewpoint interesting to visitors who are curious about buildings and how they are constructed.

Museums, castles and cultural experiences

At the Municipal Museum at Salder Castle, the history of the region is traced from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The 2,000-square-metre Ice Age Garden has been part of the museum since 2 July 2006. Together with the permanent archaeological exhibition “50,000 Years of Life in Salzgitter”, it illustrates the living conditions of the Neanderthals, who hunted in the northern Harz foothills at the beginning of the last Ice Age. The finds on display come from Krähenriede in Lebenstedt.

The museum also offers activities for younger visitors: all departments provide guided tours, workshops, children’s birthday parties and hands-on activities as part of their museum education programme. Those interested in castles can visit the reconstructed keep of Lichtenberg Castle ruins, which houses a permanent exhibition on the castle’s history and archaeological finds. Gebhardshagen moated castle, built around the year 1000, is one of the oldest moated castles in the state of Brunswick.

At Ringelheim Castle, the monastery church, rebuilt and newly constructed in the Baroque style in 1694, hosts the Ringelheim Organ Days every May. The estate park in Flachstöckheim, formerly the English garden of the noble von Schwicheldt family, includes an open-air stage that hosts concerts and children’s theatre. These places complement the region’s nature and waterside experiences with music, architectural history and performing arts.

A look at steel production

Guided tours of Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, a Salzgitter AG company, take visitors through the steelworks. The process of steel production is explained, from the blast furnace for pig iron to semi-finished and finished products in the rolling mills. Individuals and small groups of up to 15 people can take part. Participants must be at least 16 years old and have at least average fitness: the tour involves long walks and stairs and is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Bear these limitations in mind if you are considering including a visit to the works in your travel plans.

Places to help plan your trip

Salzgitter-Ringelheim has its own railway station with regional train connections. The bus stop closest to Ringelheim Castle is called “Goslarsche Straße”; routes 650 and 656 stop there. If you would first like to find your bearings by looking at individual places, you can find more information here about Lebenstedt and Bad Salzgitter. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can then decide whether lakes, hikes, culture or historic buildings should take centre stage during your stay.

Return to the main travel overview: Lower Saxony.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Hameln-Pyrmont, Lüneburg, Emsland, Delmenhorst, Helmstedt, Goslar.