Bardowick: Cathedral, History and Natural Swimming Pool

Bardowick brings together several specific themes for a stay: the cathedral’s architectural history, St. Nikolaihof, insights into local history, as well as walking tours and excursions. The Bardowicker Strand natural swimming pool is another attraction. If you are looking for a hotel in Bardowick, these places and activities can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Historic Sites and Architectural History

St. Nikolaihof is a historic complex with residential and agricultural buildings dating from the 14th to the 18th century, arranged around a Gothic chapel. The Eichhof grove borders the complex directly. Here, the buildings and their layout take center stage; the “Gildehaus” local history museum offers a different way to explore Bardowick’s history.

The local history museum documents the most important periods in the town’s history. It is housed in a Lower Saxon two-post farmhouse that formerly served as the town hall. At Bardowick’s St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral, the oldest parts of the present-day church date back to before 1189. The bronze baptismal font was purchased in 1367 and is the cathedral’s oldest furnishing. The Marian altar was created around 1430.

The Dutch-style gallery windmill is another historic landmark: it was restored in 1994/95. At the annual mill festival at Pentecost, you can watch the mill in operation and learn how it works. Since the festival takes place on a specific date each year, it is a good idea to check the event date before your trip.

Walking Tours and Excursions from Bardowick

The historic walking tour introduces Bardowick’s history through information boards at 13 locations. The figure “Pfennig” is modeled on a medieval Bardowick coin. The tour thus connects its stops with a specific historical motif from the town’s past.

The first SamBa tour begins at Bardowick Cathedral and follows a former railway embankment past the station towards Vögelsen, then continues to Mechtersen and Radbruch. It returns to the starting point via the Dutch-style windmill in Bardowick. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The second SamBa tour also starts at the cathedral and is 25 kilometers long. It passes the Dutch-style mill and continues across fields and meadows to Neu Wittorf. After a detour to Handorf Church, it heads towards Barum bathing lake and returns to Bardowick via St. Dionys and the old railway bridge. The two descriptions list different stops and routes; Tour 2 also has a specified length.

Bardowicker Strand Natural Swimming Pool

Bardowicker Strand is an artificially created, natural-style outdoor swimming pool that operates without chemicals. Facilities include a 50-meter pool and a separate area for babies and non-swimmers. A sandy beach with beach chairs complements the sunbathing lawn, which has designated soccer and volleyball courts.

Other facilities include a diving rock with one- and two-meter jump points and a rope ferry. For toddlers, there is a 70 m² area with particularly strong water circulation and built-in weirs. The separate swimming areas, sunbathing lawn and individual water attractions can help you decide whether the natural swimming pool should be a focus of your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Hohnstorf (Elbe), Thomasburg, Barum, Neetze, Barendorf, Brietlingen, Wendisch Evern, Reinstorf.

Return to the regional travel guide: Lüneburg.