Those choosing Hechthausen for a stay can get to know the area through three very different themes: St. Marien, the Historic Oste Dyke Route and Geestsee, a swimming and fishing lake. The facts about these places take you from the church nave and its stained-glass windows to the history of the Oste villages and activities on the water.
St. Marien: Dimensions, Windows and Building History
The nave of St. Marien is 24.45 metres long and 9.84 metres wide. Its length is therefore well over twice its width; both measurements give the church a concrete spatial dimension. The ceiling is designed as a segmental barrel vault. The measurements describe the extent of the nave, while the segmental barrel vault describes the shape of the ceiling. Length, width and ceiling shape thus provide concrete points of reference for understanding the architecture.
Three stained-glass windows in the eastern gable depict Pentecost, the Last Supper and Heimat (home and belonging). This places two religious motifs alongside an explicitly named theme of Heimat. The church tower took its present form in 1971, stands 23 metres high and houses four bells. The interior of St. Marien underwent extensive renovations in 1960 and 2004. The dates refer to different parts: 1971 marks the tower’s present form, while 1960 and 2004 mark the interior renovations.
Oste Routes: Exploring History and Nature
The Historic Oste Dyke Route runs from Belum to Hechthausen and can be explored by car, bicycle or on foot. More than 65 stops along the Oste present the history of the Oste villages through texts, historical photographs and display panels. The route thus combines different ways of exploring the area with a focus on history.
The Osteschleife near Laumühlen offers a natural history perspective: visitors can observe local wildlife and plant life from an observation tower. Laumühlen is a district of Hechthausen between Lamstedt and Hechthausen. The distinction between the two options is clear: the Historic Oste Dyke Route presents the history of the Oste villages, while the Osteschleife offers a chance to observe local wildlife and plant life from the observation tower.
Geestsee: Swimming and Fishing
Geestsee, a swimming and fishing lake, is located in Hechthausen-Klint. Visitors can snorkel and dive, or swim, sunbathe and build sandcastles on the sandy beach. There is also a separate bathing area for visitors with dogs; access and fees are subject to the facility’s current conditions. Activities range from time in the water to relaxing on the beach, and a separate bathing area is also available for guests with dogs. Day visitors can get tickets during opening hours at reception or, alternatively, at the Raubritter restaurant. The facility’s current conditions apply to access and fees. Check opening hours and ticket sales in advance, as sales locations and times may change.
Further Experiences in the Wider Cuxhaven Destination
In the wider Cuxhaven destination, the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea Visitor Centre Cuxhaven offers a distinct natural history focus. Its exhibition, spread across three floors, presents information about the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site and the Cuxhaven coastal heathlands. Natural history guided tours let you experience mudflats, salt marsh, geest cliff and coastal heath. Bederkesa Castle houses the archaeological museum of the district of Cuxhaven.
Discover more destinations: Wingst, Bad Bederkesa, Mittelstenahe, Sandstedt, Steinau, Flögeln, Oberndorf, Osten
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Cuxhaven.
