Discover Bad Zwischenahn

Church and local history

St. John's Church was founded in 1124 by Count Egilmar, the first hereditary count of Oldenburg. It was established as a daughter church of Wiefelstede. Its interior includes, among other things, a medieval wall cupboard and a 15th-century baptismal font. This makes it possible to relate the early founding of the church to later furnishings: the baptismal font belongs to a different historical period than the church's founding in the 12th century. Anyone interested in regional church history will find specific names, dates and surviving details here, rather than just a general reference to a period.

Open-air museum, mill and spa park

The Ammerland Farmhouse is one of Germany's oldest open-air museums of its kind and offers a glimpse of what life was like 300 years ago. Located in the heart of the spa park, the museum comprises 17 houses and outbuildings that are harmoniously integrated into the landscape. The buildings and the historical way of life they portray give the museum visit a different focus from church history.

The windmill at the open-air museum also combines architectural history with technology: it dates from 1811 and was initially built in nearby Westerstede. A two-storey gallery Dutch mill, it has a working milling mechanism for grinding grain and a crushing mill for oil production. On your visit, you can learn about both of its different functions as well as the mill's historical origins.

Magnificent rhododendrons in vivid colours are a particular feature of the spa park, especially in May and June. The Park of Gardens adds another dimension: covering 140,000 square metres, it offers ideas and inspiration for home gardens and a place to enjoy nature and culture or relax. This gives you a choice of different garden and park experiences during your stay: the seasonal rhododendron bloom in the spa park and ideas for designing your own garden at the Park of Gardens.

Sightseeing cruises on the Zwischenahner Meer

The Weisse Flotte operates daily sightseeing cruises from April to October. A round trip starting and ending at the Bad Zwischenahn pier takes about 70 minutes. Passengers can break their journey in Dreibergen or Rostrup and rejoin the boat later. The boating season on the Zwischenahner Meer runs from 1 April to 15 October. Check the current timetable and season dates when planning, as timetables may change.

The cruise details help you gauge how long a trip will take; the option to break your journey also allows for a different kind of planning than a nonstop trip. Eight cycling routes start in Bad Zwischenahn or pass through the town. For a specific cycling trip, you can first check which route suits your plans, without assuming a connection to the piers.

Moorland tour and culinary walk

A guided moorland tour introduces the history of the moor and follows a route along the restoration basins, the Moor Visitor Centre and the site where a bog body was found. Check in advance whether the tour is available on your travel dates. This lets you see how the activity fits with the other interests you have for your stay, without assuming that it will be available.

The culinary walk “This Is What Bad Zwischenahn Tastes Like” has a focus of its own: it visits seven stops serving Bad Zwischenahn specialities and includes tastings. Dates and availability depend on the time of year; check both in advance if you would like to include the walk in your travel plans. The activities differ clearly in theme: the moorland tour explores history and moorland sites, while the walk combines several stops with tastings.

Discover more destinations: Elmendorf, Westerstede, Wiefelstede, Rastede, Apen, Edewecht

Back to the main travel overview: Ammerland.