Famed for its inspiring railway station envisioned by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Uelzen is a Hanseatic town and county capital in Lower Saxony. It’s clustered with timber-framed buildings and Gothic-style brick landmarks designed in a typical North German style.
Things to do in Uelzen
One of Uelzen’s most important architectural landmarks is the Hundertwasserbahnhof, a fairytale-like railway station designed by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. He revitalised it for the EXPO 2000 and it has since been described as “the most beautiful train station in the world”. In addition to imaginative mosaics, curving lines and shimmering light, it features the largest roof-integrated photovoltaic system in Lower Saxony.
A short drive south of Uelzen is Schloss Holdensted, a Baroque manor built in the early 18th century that served as a military hospital during World War II. It was constructed on the site of a moat-surrounded medieval castle (which was heavily damaged during the Thirty Years’ War) and now encompasses a spacious park designed according to English landscaping traditions. Art exhibitions, concerts and cultural events regularly take place at the castle.
Want to stretch your legs? Head to the lakeside trails of the Oldenstädter See, a recreational paradise north-east of Uelzen. In the summer months, you can relax on the natural beach or kayak along its shores. In the winter months, ice hockey is occasionally played on the lake and one of the nearby hills provides a setting for tobogganing.
Getting around Uelzen
Uelzen is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Hamburg Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Regular trains connect to the Uelzen railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Uelzen can easily be explored on foot.