The Walddörfer (Forest villages)

Hamburgs "Walddörfer" (Forest villages)

The Walddörfer in the north-east of the city for a long time were Prussian territory before they became part of Hamburg. Volksdorf, Wohldorf/Ohlstedt, which have been incorporated already in the 15th century, and Bergstedt, Lemsahl-Mellingstedt and Duvenstedt that were part of Schleswig Holstein before, became known as the woods villages in 1937.
These districts today are popular places of recreation by Hamburg's citizens.
Large patches of woodland and private properties with beautiful villas situated in streets lined with old trees and little settlements with pretty gardens form the picture of this area.
Although urbanisation in these parts in recent years has increased the Walddörfer have not lost their particular charm.

Volksdorf

With its approximately 18200 inhabitants Volksdorf is the main-point of the Walddörfer. Local authority office, shopping centre, post office, weekly open market and numerous retail shops, schools, indoor swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool in the woods, cinema, pubs and restaurants offer the convenience which make up a comfortable living here, as well as the Underground, that goes to the centre and also in the opposite direction further to the Walddörfer in intervals of 5-10 minutes.

police station inVolksdorf - Historical smithy - "Spiekerhus"

The forest in Volksdorf, which in recent years has grown considerably, is one of the oldest in Hamburg. It is one of the most frequented areas by visitors.
The shopping centre as well as the open weekly market in Volksdorf are not only used by all Waldörfer inhabitants for shopping but also to go for a stroll with friend and go to one of the many restaurants.

Shoppingcentre "Weisse Rose" - Volksdorf outdor-market

Volksdorf links:

The new shopping centre in Volksdorf - Eulenkrugpassage

Restaurant in the museum village - Dorfkrug Volksdorf

The indoor swimming pool in Volksdorf - Bäderland Hamburg

Bergstedt

Quiet paths through blooming fields, but also noisy traffic crossings, the beautiful medieval village church, woodlands, the valley of springs (Quellental) on the upper Alster, some ancient farms, one of which is still being cultivated, a historical water-wheel mill with restaurant, little brooks and quiet residential streets - that all is Bergstedt, a district without much infrastructure, but it's delightful living here.

The Bergstedt church in summer - in autumn - in winter

This beautiful church, is not only popular with bride and groom, also children are very cordially welcomed here on their first Day of school. The popularity of this church is result of its really beautiful interior structure as well as it is Hamburg's only church without electricity and as such has its own atmosphere and exerts a particular attraction to each individual visitor.
If ever you go to the Walddörfer you should pay a visit to this church.

Rodenbeker Quellental
In the "Rodenbeker Quellental" along the course of the Alster you may well believe to be at world's end. It is situated well hidden at the end of a street in Hamburg-Bergstedt. This nature reserve, which is only 47 hectares in size, is described as mixed woodland at the upper reaches of the Alster.
Some of the woods areas are 200 - 300 years old. Here grow beeches, oaks, birches and alders. Innumerable wood anemones and violets cover the forest soil in spring.

At the Rodenbeker pond - in the Rodenbeker source valley - to the source court - the restaurant

The Rodenbeker Quellental, which has developed from melt water draining away in the course of the late Vistula ice age, is run through by three brooks (Rodenbek, Bredenbek, Lottbek) running in an east westerly direction and numerous springs.
The Rodenbek straightened in earlier time was transferred back to its old riverbed and today offers living space for many different kinds of fishes again.
Since the local bank of the Alster and also the “Mühlenteich” are special protected areas for threatened animal and plant ways, the Alsterwanderweg, that goes west of the nature reserve, lies here a little away from the waters.
Ornithologists have counted 38 different species of bird - the most frequent under them are robins and wrens. The meanwhile very rare kingfisher still finds a refuge place in this area, too.

Grey herons and water bats find much food at the former fishponds in the north of the nature reserve, they visit this water place regularly.
Here in the still municipal room a little paradise opens up for hikers, strollers and cyclists. And who still would like to enjoy the quiet and beauty of the surroundings at the end of a long excursion for a while, can let the day finish in the inn “Quellenhof” , a thatched roof house built at 1800 on the edge of the nature reserve.
The Rodenbeker Quellental is part of the forestry district “Wohldorf”.

Wohldorf/Ohlstedt

The Wohldorf forest - that is a more than 135 ha extensive area with old beeches and oaks, some of them more than 200 years old. Many little brooks wind their ways though a natural wildness of the woods. A network of pathways, approximately 35 km long, make these woodland a paradise for those who like to go for long walks. In its southern parts there is a recreation park with gadgets for children to play and for adults to take exercises. Restaurants you find in the immediate vicinity of the wood.

The former manor of Wohldorf is situated on the historical castle island. Here, for 400 years, was the residence of the senators of Hamburg. Today the manor is privately owned.

Wohldorf Manor House, Wohldorf forest, Wohldorf millpond - walk round the millpond

Ohlstedt is to this day a dreamy little place, of which the centre around the town hall near the underground station, separated by the "Wohldorfer Wald", is only within 20 minutes walking distance from the manor and estate Wohldorf.
These two villages, Wohldorf and Ohlstedt, are one community since late 19th century.

Lemsahl-Mellingstedt is still a idyllic double village, even if one already sees some modern apartment - and office buildings. After all, the total population almost has doubled within the years between 1990 and 2003. But also here the infrastructure hasn't co-grown. So the public transport is not sufficient, but just because the municipal bustle is absent, the village seems very peaceful.

Duvenstedt

The "Duvenstedter Brook" is one of the largest nature reserves of Hamburg. Woods, moor, heath, meadows, reeds and small ponds give this landscape a unspoilt character.
Boar, roe deer, stag, fallow deer and red deer feel at home here.

Deer at "Duvenstedter Brook" - the "Brook" (marsh) - "Gasthaus Offen" in Lemsahl

(Descendants of the former patron of Lemsahl run this inn today

Links to the Walddörfer Forestry offices:

Hamburg woodlands * www.forst-hamburg.de/volksdorf.htm

www.forst-hamburg.de/wohldorf.htm * www.forst-hamburg.de/duvenstedter_brook.htm

Hagenbeck's zoo