The best running trails around Weberkuhle

The glacial erratics from Småland in Nienburg/Weser are impressive relics of a natural history dating back tens of thousands of years. These large, often smoothly polished boulders originally came from the southern Swedish region of Småland and were transported to northern Germany by mighty glaciers during the last Ice Age. As the ice sheet slowly moved south, it tore rocks from the Scandinavian bedrock and carried them over long distances. When the ice melted, these so-called erratics were left behind in the landscape – far from their place of origin. Such glacial erratics, which can be geologically clearly attributed to Sweden, can also be found in Nienburg. Their composition, such as granite or gneiss, as well as characteristic structures, allow conclusions to be drawn about their Småland origin. They thus vividly illustrate the immense forces of the Ice Age and demonstrate how profoundly glaciers shaped the landscape we see today. The glacial erratics are silent witnesses to history, forging a connection between the Nienburg region and Scandinavia. Beyond their geological significance, these erratics also play a cultural and design role. In Nienburg, they are deliberately used as striking elements in the cityscape and green spaces, serving simultaneously as a starting point for environmental education and the preservation of historical memory.

The Weser port of Nienburg is closely linked to the city's economic and urban development and exemplifies the importance of the Weser River as a transport and trade route. Nienburg recognized its advantageous location on a navigable stretch of the river early on, leveraging its role in transporting goods and conducting trade. The port evolved as a transshipment point between river shipping and the hinterland, contributing significantly to the city's prosperity. The Weser port experienced a period of great importance, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Agricultural products, building materials, timber, and other goods were loaded and transported here. The port was a major employer and a vibrant hub where ship owners, merchants, and craftsmen converged. Simultaneously, it shaped the city's image as a confident Weser River trading center. With the transformation of transportation structures and the increasing importance of road and rail, the Weser port gradually lost its central economic function during the 20th century. Nevertheless, it has been preserved as an important infrastructural and historical site. Parts of the port area were transformed into areas for leisure, recreation and urban use, while the proximity to the Weser river remained a defining feature.

The small inland harbor is located on the Weser River, with moorings for smaller ships and boats and adjacent green spaces. The area is easily accessible via the Weser Cycle Path and offers a short, worthwhile detour to the waterfront—with views of the quiet harbor activity and the scenic riverside area.

The town hall is one of the oldest and most impressive buildings in the city. The first town hall tower, featuring a bell, was built in 1614. It received its current form in 1778/79 and was renovated in 2012.

Nienburg offers two absolute highlights. It begins and ends with an almost medieval town, and to the west of the town, on the Weser River, lies a nature reserve of renaturalized gravel pits, which is truly something special. This area is worth a visit at any time of year.

Also great and interesting is the Lower Saxony Police Museum at Lange Str. 20.

Beautiful view of the small harbor

Through a narrow entrance from the Weser you can reach the pretty harbor of Nienburg by water.