Laatzen

Laatzen brings together the Park of the Senses, the southern Leine floodplain, protected woodland and historic sites. This offers a range of options for a stay: designed sensory stations, observing nature or exploring architectural and local history.

Park of the Senses: a designed walking route

The Park of the Senses covers seven hectares. Its basin-shaped landscape is divided into areas and crisscrossed by paths. More than 30 interactive stations offer ways to experience the senses; air, water, fire and earth shape the walk. The result is a structured route that brings together a variety of sensory themes.

Individual stations also have their own distinctive features: the walk-through Insektenauge (Insect Eye) sculpture comprises 120 glass lenses and is designed to let visitors experience the perspective of an insect. At the play forest, children can climb, balance and hide. The park also forms the core of the EXPO project “Regional Landscape Area on the Kronsberg.” The project connects the Leine floodplain and the Kronsberg with a landscaped green corridor. The park lies between the Mastbruchholz landscape conservation area and the Leine floodplain.

Leinemasch and paths through the floodplain

The southern Leine floodplain, also known as the Leinemasch, covers about 500 hectares and includes the Leine floodplain landscape. Its still waters are important breeding and resting sites for waterbirds. An extensive network of paths is used for cycling, walking, hiking and observing nature. The landscape thus offers several ways to spend time outdoors, while the waters also play an important role as a habitat.

One specific route is the accessible nature and discovery trail “Plants and Animals of the Southern Leine Floodplain.” The 2.5-kilometre circular route goes around the Wiesendachhaus and introduces visitors to the flora and fauna of the Leinemasch; it has been available since December 2024. The Leine Floodplain Nature Trail covers, among other things, beavers, European water frogs, kingfishers, white storks, grey herons, dragonflies and bats on ten information boards. Non-native species and pollarded willows are also among the topics. The trail thus ranges from individual animal species to plants and other aspects of the landscape.

Mastbruchholz: recreation and protection

Mastbruchholz, which covers 20 hectares, is a remnant woodland and the only remaining forest within the city limits of Laatzen. It is a landscape and wildlife conservation area. Quiet recreation is explicitly compatible with nature conservation there. This gives a visit a clear framework: the woodland is both a protected habitat and a place for peaceful recreation.

Chapel and local history

The Gothic chapel in Alt-Laatzen was first mentioned in 1325 and is considered the southernmost building of North German Brick Gothic. Another way to explore local history is the Tordenskiold memorial stone in Gleidingen. It commemorates a duel fought in 1720 near its location between Peter Wessel Tordenskiold and the Swedish colonel Jacob Axel Staël. The chapel and memorial stone thus add a historical focus alongside the natural features of the Leinemasch and Mastbruchholz.

The different themes are easy to distinguish when planning a trip: the park focuses on designed sensory experiences, the Leinemasch on waterways, paths and wildlife, and Mastbruchholz on quiet recreation in a protected area. The chapel and memorial stone add architectural and local history. When choosing a hotel in Laatzen, these themes can help you decide which interests to focus on during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Seelze, Hannover, Burgdorf, Sehnde, Wedemark, Ronnenberg, Hemmingen, Isernhagen

For the broader travel overview: Hannover Region.