The 29-metre-high wooden Kugelbake marks the point where the Elbe ends and the North Sea begins. It also marks the northernmost point of Lower Saxony and is a listed monument. From this maritime landmark, you can explore Cuxhaven through a range of themes: coastal landscapes, shipping history and museums each give your stay a distinct focus.
Wadden Sea and coastal heathland
In the Cuxhaven area, the coastal heathland meets the Wadden Sea directly between the districts of Duhnen and Berensch. Around 900 hectares of Cuxhaven’s coastal heathland have been designated a nature reserve since December 2004. Its ecosystem provides a habitat for more than 200 plant and animal species listed as threatened in the Red Lists of Lower Saxony or Germany. The combination of heathland and tidal flats makes this landscape a distinct focus alongside the maritime structures and museums.
The Wadden Sea near Cuxhaven is part of Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. At low tide, the tidal flats provide a habitat for more than 10,000 animal and plant species. The figures for threatened species in the coastal heathland and species on the tidal flats refer to different habitats. If you want to focus on Cuxhaven’s natural side, you can therefore consider these landscapes as two distinct themes.
Maritime landmarks and history
Another landmark on the Elbe is the two-storey Alte Liebe viewing platform. It was built in 1733 as a landing stage and breakwater. Ships depart from there for Neuwerk, Heligoland and the seal banks. These destinations give shipping from the Alte Liebe a different focus from the guided mudflat hikes to the island of Neuwerk, which start in the Cuxhaven districts of Sahlenburg and Duhnen. Schedules and operators may vary, so check current dates if you are planning a trip or guided tour.
Fort Kugelbake was built at Prussia’s behest between 1869 and 1879 in a prominent location in Cuxhaven. The structure has a pentagonal design and includes a rampart and a rear moat. It is considered Germany’s only surviving naval fort. Cuxhaven’s official surfing zone is also located at the Kugelbake, where kitesurfing is possible when wind conditions are suitable. Conditions and access rules may vary seasonally, so take them into account when planning.
Museums and cultural venues
RitzebĂĽttel Castle is a late-medieval castle whose front was extended in the 18th century with an impressive Baroque annex. After extensive restoration, it opened to the public in 1996 as a civic castle. Today, it is a cultural venue for concerts, readings and exhibitions. If a particular programme is important to your stay, check the relevant event dates.
The Joachim Ringelnatz Museum displays paintings, drawings, volumes of poetry, prose works, photographs, documents and letters relating to Ringelnatz’s life and work. Its range brings together different kinds of material rather than focusing on a single art form or type of text. At the Windstärke 10 Museum, the permanent exhibition covers almost 2,000 square metres, with a large room reserved for special exhibitions. The tour lets visitors experience a fishing trip to Iceland, the cramped conditions aboard a trawler, and the search for shipwrecks and their cargo. The museum is a five-minute walk from Cuxhaven railway station.
Focal points for your stay
If you are more interested in maritime history, the Alte Liebe, the Kugelbake and the fort offer other specific points of interest. This selection reflects different interests, not a prescribed route.
Plan individual activities around the conditions that apply to them: dates and operators for mudflat hikes may vary, you should check ship schedules for your trip, and kitesurfing at the Kugelbake depends on suitable wind conditions.
Discover more destinations: Lüdingworth, Altenbruch, Duhnen, Döse, Berensch.
Discover more destinations: Nordleda, Wurster North Sea Coast, Geestland.
Back to the main travel overview: Cuxhaven.
