Giesen: Discover Nature and History

The Giesener Ponds and the burial ground in the Giesener Forest offer two distinct focal points: nature watching and archaeology. This combination provides clear thematic guidance when looking for a hotel in Giesen. The wider destination of Hildesheim adds its own cultural and activity themes to the picture.

Nature and History in Giesen

The burial ground in the Giesener Forest comprises 43 burial mounds and dates to the Early Bronze Age. It is dated approximately to between 1600 and 1200 BC, spanning around four centuries. Since the date is approximate, it provides a broad classification rather than an exact date.

Rare plants and birds can be observed at the Giesener Ponds. The ponds are situated in a wooded area on the southeast slope of the Giesener Berge. There is also a literary connection: Hermann Löns's work “The Ponds” was written at the Giesener Ponds.

In the wider destination of Hildesheim

The Hildesheim region lies between the Hildesheimer Börde, the Leine Uplands, and the foothills of the Harz Mountains. The wider Hildesheim region offers nearly 500 kilometers of varied cycling routes. They are carefully signposted, and the starting and finishing points of cycling tours can be reached by train. The total distance and signposting may change as routes are added or revised. For specific tours, check the current signs, train connections, and options for taking bicycles on board.

Regional walking options include paths along the riverbanks and forest trails. Their availability may change due to maintenance work or seasonal conditions. On the Innerste and Leine rivers, visitors can explore the wider Hildesheim destination by inflatable boat and stand-up paddleboard. Water conditions and provider availability may vary seasonally; check both if you are planning such an activity.

The cultural themes of the wider Hildesheim destination also offer a range of highlights. In Alfeld, the Fagus Factory is considered the first truly modern building and the pioneering work of modern industrial architecture. Its UNESCO Visitor Centre features interactive stations on the history of the World Heritage site and the core principles of the World Heritage Convention. In Hildesheim, the Cathedral of St. Mary houses the Bernward Doors, a masterpiece of bronze casting. St. Michael’s is a three-aisled basilica in the Ottonian, pre-Romanesque or early Romanesque style. Its monumental 13th-century ceiling painting depicts the family tree of Christ on 1,300 oak boards. Together with the Cathedral of St. Mary, St. Michael’s was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

The Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum Hildesheim houses the world's second-largest Egyptian collection. Opened in December 2025, the permanent Egyptian exhibition presents objects from 4,000 years of ancient Egyptian culture at interactive multimedia stations. The museum also houses natural history, ethnological, local history, and painting and graphics collections.

Discover more destinations: Winzenburg, Wittenburg, Brüggen, Bad Salzdetfurth, Algermissen, Sarstedt, Burgstemmen, Ahrbergen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Hildesheim.