10 largest cities in Germany
Berlin
Hamburg
Munich
Cologne
Frankfurt am Main
Hanover
Dusseldorf
Leipzig
Bremen
Dresden
Oldenburg in Oldenburg is the third largest city in Lower Saxony.
It is about 40 km west of Bremen and 90 km south of the North Sea
coast and 40 km south of the Jade Bay. The former royal seat or
capital of the State of Oldenburg has nine districts, each of which
is subdivided into further districts. As the regional center between
the Weser and Ems, Oldenburg is the administrative, economic and
cultural center of north-western Lower Saxony.
The city is
called Oldenburg in Oldenburg. The latter refers to the historic
state of Oldenburg, which is a.o. in the name of the regions of
Oldenburger Land and Oldenburger Münsterland. Oldenburg extends over
an area of approx. 10,300 hectares. The old town with pedestrian
area takes up 25 hectares. It is located approx. 45 km west of
Bremen and 90 km south of the North Sea coast. The lowest position
is around 0 m above sea level. NN and the highest position at 28 m
above sea level. NN.
Oldenburg's economy is characterized by
dynamic medium-sized companies and focuses on the service sector,
banks and insurance companies, and increasingly by the high-tech
sector and innovative spin-offs from universities. In the
manufacturing sector, automotive suppliers, the food industry,
printing companies, chemicals and services related to photography
are leading. The energy sector, especially renewable energies, is a
focus of economic development, alongside information technology,
construction, real estate and the health sector.
Living and
living in Oldenburg means neither small-town cosiness nor big-city
hectic. The city manages the difficult balancing act between these
two extremes with great ease. And that makes them extremely popular
with people. Oldenburg regularly achieves top scores in surveys on
residential satisfaction. This is certainly due to the settlement
structure with its high proportion of single and two-family houses.
Above all, however, it is thanks to the urban development qualities
of the districts. Addresses in the districts surrounding the city
center are in great demand: Judicial district, Dobbenviertel,
Haarenesch, Ziegelhof, Ehnern, Bürgeresch and Alt Osternburg are
characterized by a stable mix of a lot of historical buildings with
modern additions. Green street spaces and detailed architecture on a
human scale are just as important as the good local amenities and
the central educational and cultural offerings. The new building
quarters are characterized by high-quality urban spaces, good
accessibility to public facilities and private offers and allow the
building owners individual architecture - and at affordable building
land prices.
Tourism: investing in education, research and
creativity. Classicist architecture, traditional quarters,
gastronomic diversity, shopping experiences with a high proportion
of owner-managed retail as well as the creation of unique cultural
highlights, top-class sport and the symbiosis between tradition and
modernity are the engines of tourism competence.
Attractions
Churches
St. Lamberti Church: With its striking
five towers, the St. Lamberti Church rises on the Oldenburg market
square. Built between 1155 and 1234 as a Romanesque hall church, it
was rebuilt several times. Today, for example, the first external
impression does not suggest that the rotunda, which is well worth
seeing, is modeled on the Roman pantheon and awaits visitors inside.
One of five round churches in Germany.
The eventful history of
the church begins with the conversion between 1377 and 1531 from a
hall church to a vaulted, three-aisled Gothic hall church. But over
the next 250 years it deteriorated. Between 1791 and 1794, a new
classicist rotunda with an entrance hall was replaced in the
dilapidated walls. The then Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig brought this
style to Oldenburg; he also personally took care of the construction
work on St. Lamberti Church. But as early as 1873 the temple-like
church with a gable roof and without a bell tower was rebuilt again.
The neo-Gothic sheathing that still exists today was built around
the classicist rotunda, as well as the 86-meter-high bell tower and
four other towers at the corners. To enable the organ to be
installed, the main entrance had to be relocated in 1968 and the
interior fittings adapted accordingly. In 2007 the church will be
restored in the original classical color scheme, the chapel will be
dismantled into a vestibule, the coffins of Count Anton Günther and
his wife will return to the church and the cenotaphs in memory of
the last count and the first duke will find their ancestral place
again . New rooms are being built in the east, including the large
“Lambertus Hall” on the first floor in the neo-Gothic apse of the
church.
Gertrudenkapelle + cemetery with mausoleum at the fork in
Alexanderstraße and Nadorster Straße. : 1428 Epidemic Hospital
outside the city walls. Rebuilt in 1480. Medieval frescoes. In the
cemetery there is a mausoleum as high as a house in the classicistic
style, which Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig had built for his wife, who
died early (the beginning of classicism in Oldenburg). The final
resting place of famous people.
Ev. Trinity Church: built
1614-1616. Hall church was built at the instigation of Count Anton
Günther. Contains an Art Nouveau window with Christ as Judge of the
World.
Catholic Church of St. Peter: built 1873-1876. First
significant neo-Gothic building in Oldenburg. The hall church is
equipped with a towering tower and richly structured by buttresses
and tracery. The originally higher and steeper spire was destroyed
by a hurricane in 1972. It has been restored in a very shortened
form.
Ev.-luth. Garrison Church: built 1901-1903 for the
Oldenburg garrison. The design shows early Gothic forms. After 1918
the church was used by the civil parish. Renovations took place in
1955 and 1974, which significantly changed the interior of the
church.
Friedenskirche: The Methodist congregation in Oldenburg,
which has existed since 1858, built its church in the neo-Gothic
style in 1894 on the west side of Friedensplatz in an exposed
location.
Synagogue: Jewish cultural center. Behind the cultural
center PFL are some buildings that belonged to the former hospital
complex. One of them, a former Baptist church (1868), has housed the
synagogue and cultural center of the Jewish community, which was
newly founded in 1992, since 1995. The new synagogue is therefore
not far from the location of the former Oldenburg synagogue. It
stood in Peterstrasse across from the PFL cultural center and was
destroyed in the night of the pogroms in 1938.
Castles,
chateaux and palaces
Oldenburg Castle. Built on the foundations
of a medieval moated castle, the Oldenburg renaissance castle is now
presented in bright yellow to the citizens and guests. Count Anton
Günther had it built as a residence in place of the old "Aldenborg".
Towards the Schlossplatz it rises up with an imposing bell tower.
The subsequent sovereigns had the building extended by side wings.
For example, the library wing was built under Duke Peter Friedrich
Ludwig and the interior of the palace was redesigned in a classical
style. The boundaries to the bourgeois areas have been marked since
1839 by the castle guard opposite, whose gable relief commemorates
the victory over Napoleon. After the last Grand Duke abdicated in
1918 and the Free State was proclaimed, the palace became the State
Museum for Art and Cultural History in 1923. In three buildings
(Augusteum and Prinzenpalais) it not only shows 400-year-old
exhibits by Tischbein or Italian Baroque painting from the
possession of the former Grand Duke, but also the diversity and
cultural and historical peculiarities of the Oldenburg region.
Buildings
Old Town Hall: Today's town hall has stood on the
triangular property on the market square since 1888. There were
already two previous buildings. By 1635, the Gothic town hall built
in 1355 had become dilapidated. Count Anton Günther had a
Renaissance town hall built in its place. In the 19th century the
city grew and the town hall became too small for the city
administration. This circumstance should be remedied with a new
building. In 1886 the Renaissance building was demolished. After
discussions about the location of the new town hall, the decision
was made to use the previous site. Under the architects Matthias von
Holst and Carl Zaar (design) and Carl Franz Noack (execution),
today's building was created with stylistic elements of neo-Gothic
and neo-renaissance. The town hall is still the seat of the mayor
today. Most of the city administration is housed in other buildings
in the city.
Augusteum: With the Augusteum in the neo-Renaissance
style, Oldenburg's first art museum was opened in 1867. Parts of the
grand ducal painting collection can be seen today as well as the
"Old Masters Gallery" of the State Museum for Art and Cultural
History Oldenburg.
Cäcilienbrücke: over the coastal canal at the
end of the dam / beginning of Bremer Straße. Built 1927-1928. When
the Hunte-Ems Canal was expanded into a coastal canal, the narrow
bascule bridge over the canal was replaced by a modern, electrically
powered lift bridge. Its four squat bridge towers, executed in
expressive clinker brick architecture, mark the entrance to the
city. With a span of 40 meters, the Cecilia Bridge is an important
technical cultural monument. The bridge's lane will be raised with
steel cables and counterweights to allow ships to pass through.
Degodehaus: In 1676 a big fire raged in Oldenburg. More than 700
houses were burned down by a lightning strike. One of the few
remaining houses is the Degodehaus on the market square from 1502.
It was given its current form in 1616/17. The half-timbered house
with its steep gable has a beautifully painted wooden ceiling
inside. In 1645 this was commissioned by the then owner, Hermann
Mylius von Gnadenfeld. It shows an allegorical representation of the
worldview then represented. Incidentally, the house got its name
from its former owner, the merchant Wilhelm Degode.
Oldenburg
Central Station: In 1867 the first railway connection between
Bremen, Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven opened. The first station was a
converted goods shed, later a neo-Gothic building was built near the
horse market as a station. But at the beginning of the 20th century
it was decided to build a new building at the current location. The
Art Nouveau building was designed by the architect Friedrich
Mettegang. With dark Bockhorn clinker brick on the outside, many
preserved Art Nouveau elements can still be found in the interior.
The well-preserved waiting room, in which the ticket sales are
located today, is particularly worth seeing. The grand ducal family
was given its own waiting and boarding area to the left of the train
station, the so-called Prince's Hall.
Oldenburgisches
Staatstheater: The impressive Wilhelminian-style theater welcomes
guests from afar with its large dome. It was built in 1893 according
to plans by the architect Gerhard Schnitger. These had already been
implemented once in 1842, but the theater burned down. The imposing
building captivates with its antique porch and the neo-baroque
interior, especially of the large house. The main entrance and the
small house can now be found in the extension, which was only added
a few years ago. The big house is currently being renovated and from
September 2011 it will shine in new splendor.
Lappan: The
"angelappte", applied landmark from 1467, is the oldest in the city.
The 35 m high bell tower with a Renaissance dome survived the fire
of 1676 unscathed. The Holy Spirit Hospital belonging to the brick
tower was destroyed. The Lappan received the distinctive hood in
1709 - the clapboard covering was replaced with copper fittings and
gives the tower its “green” roof. Located on the outskirts of
Oldenburg's city center, the tower today marks an important stop and
junction for local transport in Oldenburg.
Peter Friedrich Ludwig Hospital (PFL): The former hospital in
Peterstraße goes back to plans by the architect Heinrich Strack. The
original idea for a hospital came from Otto Friedrich Ernst Lasius.
The classicist building was built between 1838 and 1841 on behalf of
Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August. The hospital was named in honor of
the late sovereign Peter Friedrich Ludwig, father of the Grand Duke.
After the hospital was closed in 1984 it became a cultural center.
Today the building, known for short as PFL, is the seat of the city
library. For example, the KIBUM children's book fair takes place
here every year.
Prinzenpalais: The classicist building on the
access road into the Oldenburg city center was built by court
architect Heinrich Carl Slevogt between 1821 and 1826. Slevogt, a
student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, was commissioned by the then
Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig. Under his rule, the city was converted
into a residential city. In classical style he had the city renewed
and expanded and thus created the - almost unique - today's
cityscape. The two-storey Prinzenpalais became the residence of the
Russian Princes Alexander and Peter, and later the Grand Duke
Nikolaus Friedrich Peter. He had the building expanded again, for
example with a south wing. After being used as a hospital, school
building and official headquarters, it has belonged to the Oldenburg
State Museum for Art and Cultural History since 2003. From
Romanticism to Expressionism, the museum presents the development of
the fine arts in Germany.
Powder tower, castle wall. Built in
1529, round building made of bricks and part of the former city
fortifications of Oldenburg. Acts as an exhibition space today. The
powder tower was used to store gunpowder until 1765. He received the
conical dome only around 1735 during the Danish reign.
Monuments
Peace column on Friedensplatz. The column, built in
1878 to commemorate the fallen in the war of 1870/1871, originally
carried a bronze figure, which was removed during World War II for
metal extraction.
Karl Jaspers statue on Cäcilienplatz (1983 by
Christa Baumgärtel). The bust, which is in the humanistic tradition,
was commissioned on the occasion of the 100th birthday of the
philosopher Karl Jaspers and placed in the immediate vicinity of the
house where he was born.
Julius Mosen on Julius Mosen Platz (1992
by Ivo Gohsmann, Stefan Sakic). Julius Mosen was a former dramaturge
at the Oldenburger Hoftheater. The sculpture was commissioned by the
Oldenburg businessman Kurt Müller-Meinhardt as part of the
renovation of the square and presented as a gift to the city of
Oldenburg.
Cushions on the town hall market in front of Galeria
Kaufhof (1979 by Yoshito Fujibe). As a commodity known in many
cultures, the pillow conveys the human need for relaxed sociability
and interpersonal exchange in a generally understandable form. The
provisional location corresponds to the Japanese usage.
Guardian
of the State Theater (1974 by Gerhard Marcks, based on the model of
the eldest daughter Brigitte) - healing, protective powers that God
has placed in female nature.
Museums
Oldenburg is
characterized by a density of important museums that arouse interest
not only among art lovers far beyond the city limits.
Horst
Janssen Museum. Horst Janssen got his own museum in Oldenburg in
2000. Janssen (1929-1995) is considered one of the greatest
draftsmen and graphic artists of the 20th century. He spent his
childhood in Oldenburg. In 1992 he was made an honorary citizen of
the city and in 1995 he was buried in the St. Gertudenkirchhof in
Oldenburg at his request. With the help of an Oldenburg patron, an
extensive collection of his works was acquired, which forms the
basis of the Horst Janssen Museum.
In a permanent exhibition on life and work, Janssen's work is
presented in exemplary drawings, watercolors, woodcuts, etchings and
lithographs. In addition to the graphic and graphic works, Janssen
is also presented as a writer. Objects from his personal
environment, such as utensils from his study, can be seen.
Multimedia stations enable visitors to create their own picture of
an extreme artist personality.
Horst Janssen was a draftsman,
etcher, lithographer, woodcut artist, author, poster artist and
illustrator. The many facets of Janssen's rich artistic talent are
the subject of the permanent exhibition in the Horst Janssen Museum
Oldenburg. In two halls with an area of around 600 square meters,
all aspects of Horst Janssen's work are presented in ten
content-related departments. The artistic all-rounder can thus be
constantly experienced and understood in the museum, regardless of
the subject of the respective temporary exhibition on the ground
floor of the house.
Augusteum and Prinzenpalais: The Augusteum,
built in 1867 in the style of the Italian Renaissance and
elaborately designed in the spirit of historicism, was the first art
museum in Oldenburg. Today, the building, which was specially built
for this purpose, houses parts of the former Grand Ducal painting
collection in the "Old Masters" collection, primarily Italian and
Dutch paintings from the 16th to the 18th centuries and European
paintings from the Middle Ages. Erected in the period from
1821-1826, the classicistic Prinzenpalais served the orphaned
grandchildren (Princes Alexander and Peter) of Duke Peter Friedrich
Ludwig as an appropriate domicile. After intermittent use, etc. As a
military hospital during the First World War and as an authority
building until 2001, it is now used for culture with the "Gallery of
19th and 20th Century Art".
Augusteum and Prinzenpalais belong to
the State Museum for Art and Cultural History in Oldenburg Castle.
Edith Ruß House for Media Art: The Edith Ruß House for Media Art
bears the name of the Oldenburg student Edith Maria Ruß, who
bequeathed her fortune to the city with the condition to create a
house "for art in the transition into the new millennium". The
result is a facility that is unique in northern Germany: It is
dedicated to the media that shape private and public life in the
21st century. Works by current artists who work with technologies
such as video, computers and the Internet are on view Changing
exhibitions is the increasing presence of new media and forms of
communication in today's everyday world. Events such as artist
talks, lectures and media (art) educational workshops offer the
opportunity to get to know the artists shown and to learn more about
new media Year several artists from different countries went to
Oldenburg for a few weeks.
State Museum for Art and Cultural
History: The State Museum for Art and Cultural History consists of
three buildings: the Oldenburg Castle, the Augusteum and the
Prinzenpalais. In the Oldenburg Castle, the former residence of
Count Anton Günther (1583–1667) and the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg
until 1918/19, there is now a museum for art and cultural history.
The permanent exhibition “Cultural history of a historical
landscape” is presented on three floors, showing the diversity and
cultural-historical peculiarities of the Oldenburg region over the
centuries, starting from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The
Augusteum, built in 1856 in the style of the Italian Renaissance and
elaborately designed in the spirit of historicism, was the first art
museum in Oldenburg. Today the building, which was specially built
for this purpose, again houses parts of the former Grand Ducal
painting collection, preferably Italian and Dutch paintings from the
16th to the 18th centuries and European paintings from the Middle
Ages to the modern era. On the ground floor there are alternating
outstanding exhibitions on the history of painting and contemporary
art. After its renovation and the restoration of its original
sequence of rooms, the former Prinzenpalais am Damm serves as an
exhibition center for art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The
development of the fine arts in Germany is illustrated on two
floors, starting with Romanticism and the art of Classicism.
Landesmuseum Natur und Mensch: The beginnings of the museum go
back to the year 1835, when Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August bought
a collection of insects and birds. Ethnological objects and
archaeological finds were added later. In keeping with the spirit of
the times, the Natural History Museum, later the State Museum for
Natural History and Prehistory and, since January 1st 2001, the
State Museum for Nature and Man, was created from the collection of
“natural objects and antiquities”. As has been the case since the
museum was first established, the redesign focuses on the natural
and cultural history of north-west Germany. Unlike in the past,
natural history is understood as a cultural history of nature that
is seen and shaped by people. Under the motto “nature and man”, the
history and stories of the large landscapes - moor, geest as well as
coast and marshland - are told from their beginnings to modern
nature conservation. The new exhibitions “Neither lake nor land -
MOOR a lost landscape” and “Liberated from the ice - GEEST - rich
history on barren land” are the first parts of this redesign.
Oldenburger Kunstverein: In the "Small Augusteum" the works of
nationally important artists of the contemporary art scene are shown
in up to six changing exhibitions a year. In addition, the art
association organizes readings by authors and lectures on questions
of culture and literature in its rooms.
City museum: The two
villas of the museum founder Theodor Francksen (1875-1914) preserve
civil living culture from the 17th century to the eve of the First
World War in over 25 room ensembles and a small but considerable
collection of antiquities of over 100 vases and terracottas from the
7th century BC to the 3rd century AD. The Ballin'sche Villa presents
the life and work of the Oldenburg artist Professor Bernhard Winter
(1871-1964) as well as the city's history from the Middle Ages to
the 19th century. The 20th century is shown on the ground floor of
the Neue Galerie. Its upper floor and the “Claus Hüppe Foundation
Hall” offer space for numerous temporary exhibitions and special
events in the field of art, cultural, social and technological
developments in the city and region of Oldenburg. In the museum
garden, not only historical objects from the history of the city,
which were threatened by destruction and loss, are presented, but
also larger sculptures and sculptures that directly address the
topic of art and nature.
Streets and squares
Rathausplatz:
On one side the square is lined by the town hall and the
Lambertikirche, on the other side by various cafes and bars that
invite you to take a coffee break after a shopping spree. Here you
can relax or meet people in a historic atmosphere. The weekly market
(Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and farmers' market (Friday) also have
a regular place here. During the Advent season, Rathausplatz is also
home to the popular "Lambertimarkt" with numerous mulled wine
stalls, stalls with delicacies, handicrafts, jewelry, etc.
Schlossplatz: A spacious square directly between the Oldenburg
Castle and the Castle Guard. Due to construction sites and
renovation work, Schlossplatz will be available again as a central
event location from 2012.
Horse market: Originally used as such,
today primarily a large car park and location of the weekly market
(Tues., Thurs., Sat.). In addition, major events take place here,
such as public viewing for the soccer World Cup or "Horse Day".
Waffenplatz: One of the central squares in the city center. Every
year there is the "Tanz in den Mai", the wine festival and other
events. As part of the "Dream Gardens" campaign, the area is
creatively planted and designed. Easy parking in the neighboring
multi-storey car park.
Friedensplatz: corner of Ofener
Str./Peterstr. In the middle of the square is the "Peace Column",
which was built in 1878 to commemorate those who fell in the war of
1870/1871. This column originally carried a bronze figure that was
used for metal extraction during World War II.
Julius-Mosen-Platz: Once designed as a semicircle, the square got
its current appearance in the early 1990s. There is the bronze bust
of Julius Mosen, the poet and theater dramaturge in Oldenburg,
1844-1848.
Cäcilienplatz: Park-like square behind the State
Theater, surrounded by beautiful old town villas. This is a small
park where people like to meet, especially to play boules. There are
also two bronze busts showing Helene Lange (champion of the women's
movement) and Karl Jaspers (philosopher).
Traffic jam / harbor: Today the front part is used as a marina.
Location of the harbor festival and the city beach. The port lies at
the intersection of the Hunte sea waterway and the inland waterway
coastal canal. With an average annual turnover of 1.4 million tons,
the Oldenburg port is one of the most heavily handled inland ports
in Lower Saxony.
Bergstrasse and Nikolai-Viertel: The old city
quarter "Nikolai-Viertel" forms an idyllic counterpoint to the newly
designed pedestrian zone. Many artisans have settled on the
cobblestone streets, arguably the oldest in the city.
Dobbenviertel: This quarter was built in the former floodplain of a
river. The term "Dobben" refers to swampy areas with many ponds and
watercourses. Nowadays there is a popular residential area with
stately buildings. The so-called "dog huts" are an architectural
style that was preferred in Oldenburg in the 19th century and is
often found in the Dobbenviertel.
Johannisviertel and
Ziegelhofviertel: The narrow streets, small squares and the old
houses and villas with rustic shops create an original atmosphere.
Parks and gardens
The proportion of forest, gardens and green
spaces is over 50% of the total area. Since over 70% of the
population lives in one or two-family houses with their own garden,
there is also a significant proportion of private green spaces.
Castle garden: laid out in the style of an English landscape
garden, age-old trees, magnificent rhododendrons (some of the oldest
in Germany), watercourses and meadows characterize the image in the
middle of the city center. The castle garden can also be explored
from a different perspective by boat on the Mühlenhunte. The
Elisabeth-Anna-Palais (today the seat of the social court) is
located on the approx. 18 hectare park
Botanical Garden: Founded
in 1882 as a "seminar garden" for teacher training, the Botanical
Garden is now a scientific facility of the Institute for Biology and
Environmental Sciences at the Carl von Ossietzky University in
Oldenburg. It covers 3.7 hectares and contains around 7000 different
plant species in different planting areas (medicinal plant and farm
garden, Alpinium) as well as exotic woody plants.
Hörgarten:
Right next to the "House of Hearing" of Oldenburg Hearing Research,
you can find out more about hearing and acoustics in a playful way.
Fascinating exhibits such as the whispering gallery, the acoustic
cannon or the wind harp serve this purpose. The initiative "Germany
- Land of Ideas" has named the Hörgarten a 'selected place'.
Wall
systems: The former city fortifications ran around the city center
and these wall systems with their curved watercourses are still a
reminder of the old days when the city center had to be defended.
After 1800 the fortifications were removed and the ramparts turned
into a park landscape. Today they shape the cityscape with their
lush greenery.
Eversten Holz: Eversten Holz is located in the
immediate vicinity of the Dobbenviertel, which is well worth seeing
with its historic villas. In 1832, Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August
commissioned the respected landscape gardener Julius Bosse to
transform Eversten Holz into a landscape park. Today there are shady
paths between beeches and oaks for walking, jogging and walking.
There is also a large playground.
Großer and Kleiner Bürgerbusch:
Entrances: Scheideweg, Bahnweg and Feldstraße. The Bürgerbusch was
once the forest area of the Oldenburg citizens from which they
fetched their firewood. Today it is divided into the small and the
large Bürgerbusch. While the Große Bürgerbusch has extensive green
areas, a playground and a fitness trail, the Kleine Bürgerbusch,
located directly on Alexanderstraße, is more inviting for a short
walk.
Stadtwald and Blankenburger Holz: out of town via Holler
Landstrasse, at the level of Blankenburg Abbey on the left. At the
end of 1995, the Oldenburg City Forest was founded as part of a
large public planting campaign. Approx. 150,000 trees were planted
on an area of 30 hectares. This semi-natural mixed deciduous
forest is composed primarily of native deciduous tree species such
as oak, birch, aspen, alder, beech, winter linden and mountain ash.
Around 10 ha of the area was reserved for the development of various
biotopes. Part of the urban forest is also dedicated to a forest
adventure trail. The tour through the city forest and the
Blankenburger forest provides information about the forest habitat
at 17 stations.
Activities
Cycling: Oldenburg is a cycling city. The cycle
paths are well developed throughout the city and the surrounding
area (Ammerland, Wildeshauser Geest Nature Park, Wesermarsch). There
is a bicycle station at the main train station where bicycles can be
safely parked and where there are also bicycles to borrow.
Sport:
Whether passively - for example at the games of the EWE Baskets
(basketball Bundesliga) - or actively: The Oldenburgers are
extremely enthusiastic about sports. There are more than 100 clubs
in Oldenburg that offer sports from aerobics to yoga. Recreational
sports can be found in the swimming pools, at the running clubs or
in the commercially operated fitness studios. Water hiking is also
very popular. A varied and diverse landscape can be explored on the
river Hunte. And since 2010 it has also been possible to take part
in a city tour by canoe.
Kale tours: Kale is Oldenburg's national
dish. His palms can only be harvested after the first frost. The
cold takes the bitter substances out of the leaves, increases the
sugar content of the cabbage and makes it easier to digest. The
vegetables are cooked fat and hearty and are preferably served with
pee, boiled sausage and smoked pork.
Oldenburg merchants drove
their horse-drawn carriages to East Friesland as early as the 19th
century to enjoy winter vegetables in the village inns there. The
cabbage rides, which are popular throughout the northwest, have
their origins in this tradition. The Kohlfreunde roam the country in
groups to finally stop off at a (country) inn to eat and drink
together. On this occasion the "Kohlkönig" is determined every year.
Since the summer of 2010, Oldenburg has been referring to itself
with a wink as the “Kohltourhauptstadt” [www.kohltourhauptstadt.de].
Regular cultural events
Oldenburger Promenade (Chamber Music
Festival in June): International music festival with a strolling
character. Music from classical to jazz, world music, early music,
church and choral music.
Cultural summer (July to August): The
cultural summer offers a wide variety of events: jazz, pop, rock,
classical, open-air cinema, exhibitions, readings and theater.
International Ceramic Days Oldenburg (August 1st weekend): This
weekend, Oldenburg is all about ceramic art. Part of the Ceramic
Days is the traditional ceramic market with exhibitors of different
nationalities.
Internationales Filmfest Oldenburg (September): A
specialty for all film buffs who love and appreciate independent
filmmaking and the productions of young German and international
filmmakers.
KIBUM (largest non-commercial children's and youth
book fair): Every year in November, the KIBUM presents new
publications in the field of children's and youth media. A varied
supporting program with readings by authors and theater
performances. Storytelling and fairy tale hours, hands-on events and
lectures enrich the fair.
Lamberti market (Christmas market): Set
up between the historical sites of the Old Town Hall, the Oldenburg
Castle and the venerable St. Lamberti Church, this market is a
magnet for many visitors from the region and from the neighboring
Netherlands for four weeks before Christmas.
Kramermarkt
Oldenburg (end of September / beginning of October): Every year up
to 1.5 million visitors are drawn to the folk festival in Oldenburg,
which is heralded with a large parade. The Kramermarkt starts on a
Friday and lasts 10 days
www.kramermarkt-oldenburg.de.
Oldenburg is a traffic junction in the northwest. Motorways and
rail network intersect here and thus have an important function for
travelers and goods. These also play an important role in transport
on the waterways. In addition, with Bremen Airport, a European
commercial airport is in the immediate vicinity.
By plane
The largest civil airport in the northwest region is located in
Bremen. From here there are regular connections to numerous German
and European airports. Southern European holiday destinations are
dominant in charter flights.
Although Münster / Osnabrück
Airport is more than twice as far away from Oldenburg as compared to
Bremen, this international airport is also enjoying increasing
popularity with passengers from the Oldenburg area.
The
nearest regional airports are in Hatten, Ganderkesee,
Westerstede-Felde and Wilhelmshaven-Mariensiel.
By train
The Oldenburg main station is the only station in Lower Saxony with
a platform hall.
Oldenburg is integrated into the
long-distance network of Deutsche Bahn via Bremen / Hanover, which
is mainly served by Intercity (IC). Bremen and Hanover can also be
reached from Oldenburg by regional train (RB) and regional express
(RE). These types of train, especially the regional train, also stop
at smaller stations along the route.
The
Wilhelmshaven-Oldenburg-Osnabrück route, and also to Bremen, is
served by the NordWestBahn (NWB) trains. Since December 2010
Oldenburg has been connected to the regional S-Bahn Bremen / Lower
Saxony. The next car train station is at the Hildesheim freight
station. It is only a few minutes from the main train station to the
city center. The ZOB (Central Bus Station) with all bus lines is
also on the north side. There is also a bike rental service at the
main train station.
Oldenburg Central Station is served by
long-distance trains (Intercitys) from the direction of Leer or
Leipzig via Braunschweig, Hanover and Bremen as well as regional
traffic from Wilhelmshaven, Norddeich and Quakenbrück. The next more
important train stop is Bremen.
Train routes traveled every
hour from Oldenburg:
Hanover - Bremen - Oldenburg - Leer - Emden
- Norddeich Mole (DB)
Wilhelmshaven - Oldenburg - Osnabrück
(NordWestBahn)
Wilhelmshaven - Oldenburg - Bremen (NordWestBahn)
By bus
Oldenburg is directly connected to the A28 and A29
motorways. All roads lead from the city motorway ring into the city.
There are parking spaces for coaches at Cäcilienplatz (behind the
State Theater), on the Bundesbahnweg and at the Weser-Ems-Halle. In
and around Oldenburg, Verkehr und Wasser GmbH (VWG) operates bus
services. More than 45,000 people drive the VWG every day. With the
exception of line 304, all buses run via the central bus station
(ZOB) on the north side of the Oldenburg main station. VWG is a
partner in the Bremen / Lower Saxony transport association (VBN), an
association of numerous transport companies. The Weser-Ems buses
take care of the area supply in the region.
Regular bus
connections of the Weser-Ems buses to surrounding communities such
as Wardenburg, Bad Zwischenahn, Edewecht or Friesoythe also allow
"non-Oldenburgers" from the region to travel to the region at low
cost.
The central hub for all bus traffic in and around
Oldenburg is the central bus station (ZOB) directly behind the main
train station and the "Lappan" stop in the city center.
By
street
Oldenburg lies at the intersection of a north-south and an
east-west connection, which is supplemented by a 32-kilometer-long
city motorway ring. The A 29, from Wilhelmshaven via Oldenburg,
joins the Hansalinie A 1 at the Ahlhorner Heide motorway triangle.
It provides the shortest road connection to the Rhine-Ruhr area via
Osnabrück and Münster.
The A 28 connects Oldenburg with
Bremen and provides a direct connection to the important routes
Hamburg-Scandinavia and Hanover-Kassel-Frankfurt. In the west, the A
28 leads in the direction of Emden, Leer and the Netherlands. The A
28 (direction Leer) leads to the A 31 (Emsland motorway) at Dreieck
Bunde. It is an alternative to the often congested A 1. The A 31
joins the A 2 in the north of the Ruhr area near Essen and
Oberhausen.
Direct motorway connections to the
A 28 Bremen
- Emden - Leer
A 29 Wilhelmshaven - Ahlhorner Dreieck (A 1)
A
293 city motorway between the triangles orientated west and
orientated north
By boat
Liner connections to Oldenburg do not exist. In the
old city harbor there is a possibility of berth for sport boaters.
Water sports enthusiasts come via the Weser and the Hunte or the
coastal canal and dock at the Stau city harbor.
Oldenburg's
inland port has a leading position in cargo handling among the port
cities of the same type in Lower Saxony. The Deutsche Bahn container
handling facility is of great importance here. It is also
significant that the port can also be reached by seagoing vessels
via the Hunte, up to a maximum load capacity of 1500 tons. The Hunte
and the coastal canal are extremely interesting for the Oldenburg
economy as well as for sport boaters and leisure captains.
Shipping
Oldenburg has one of the most heavily handled inland
ports in Lower Saxony. About 2 km in length as a parallel port on
the lower Hunte. The Seewasserstraße Hunte is navigable for inland
and seagoing vessels.
Hunte
The Hunte flows into the Weser
at Elsfleth, the Hunte spring is located on the northern edge of the
Wiehengebirge. The course of the river is interrupted by the
Dümmersee.
Coastal channel
The coastal channel connects
the Hunte from Oldenburg with the Ems near Lathen. The coastal canal
lock in Oldenburg is navigable for inland vessels.
By bicycle
De Hunte-Radweg and Meer-Radweg lead through Oldenburg.
Around the city
The city of Oldenburg is part of the Bremen / Lower Saxony
transport association, whose tariff is used. In addition, the Lower
Saxony Ticket and the Nice Weekend Ticket are valid throughout the
network, the BahnCard 100 is only valid in the cities of Bremen,
Bremerhaven, Oldenburg and Delmenhorst.
Fares
Within the
urban area, price level I applies with the special rule that single
tickets are valid for 90 minutes from validation for any number of
journeys including return journeys. Day tickets are valid from
validation until 3:00 a.m. on the following day. All prices as of
February 2016: Single adult ticket: 2.35 Adult 4-person ticket: 8.00
euros (2 euros per trip) Adult day ticket (plus a maximum of 3
children up to 14 years of age): 1 adult € 6.70, 2 adults 9, € 30, 3
adults € 11.90, 4 adults € 14.50, 5 adults € 17.10. Single ticket
child: 1.20 €
Rail transport
In the city of Oldenburg
there are no trams or subways and only two passenger stations:
Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf (please enter without spaces in the information
website of Deutsche Bahn) and Oldenburg-Wechloy. In the main station
there is a connection to individual InterCitys in long-distance
traffic, in regional traffic to the regional S-Bahn line RS3 (Bad
Zwischenahn - Bremen), to the regional express lines RE1
((Norddeich-Mole - Norddeich) - Emden - Leer - Augustfehn -
Oldenburg - Hude - Delmenhorst - Bremen - Verden - Eystrup -
Hanover), RE18 (Wilhelmshaven - Rastede - Oldenburg - Ahlhorn -
Osnabrück) and RE19 (Wilhelmshaven - Rastede - Oldenburg - Hude -
Delmenhorst - Bremen). Oldenburg-Wechloy only has a connection to
the regional S-Bahn RS3.
Bus transport
Apart from the
regional S-Bahn line RS3 with two stops in the city area, all public
transport is served by buses. These have three-digit line numbers
that start with 3.