In the village

The formerly independent agricultural communities were incorporated into Achim in 1972 as part of a territorial reform. A village character can still be discovered in various corners today. The circular tour starts in the "old village of Achim", leads along the Weser River to Bollen, then back through Uphusen and along the "Sand Dry Grass Nature Reserve".

Directions:
The hiking tour starts in the "Achim Farmers' Quarter" (1) at St. Laurentius Church (2). You will find the first hiking trail sign in the church parking lot. Now walk down the "Kleine Kirchenstraße" in a southerly direction and turn right onto "Unterstraße" (3). Follow this street until you reach "Am Werder" street (4), where you turn left. From the dike where you can now walk, you have a rewarding view of the Achim marshes. Unnoticed, you have now reached the district of Bierden (5). Behind the inn "Zur Linde" turn left onto "Bierdener Marsch" street. Then continue behind the dike gap to the right. Follow the path until the dike crosses your path. From here, the hiking trail continues as you like, either on the dike (6) or on the road along the dike towards Clüverswerder. On the numerous benches, you can enjoy a peaceful view of Bierden Marsh (7) and the Weser River. Here, the marsh is also part of the Clüverswerder landscape protection area (8), which extends from Verden-Eissel along the Weser to the Bremen area. The path leads past the Achim sewage treatment plant (operational since 1965) until the point where the road running alongside the dike branches off to the right. Here you will find a shelter below the dike. At this point, turn left and continue following the dike. After a few meters, you will reach a lake framed by tall trees on your right. Through the trees, you can catch a glimpse of Gut Clüverswerder (9). The path now continues along the dike crest. Passing by the "Pannen" swamp area (10), the dike approaches the Weser River to within a few meters. From here, you can observe shipping traffic on the Weser River. The village of Bollen (11) is also reached with the campground. From here, you can choose whether to hike on the soft ground of the dike or on the paved road. At the dike gap, take a moment to pause and let your gaze wander over the marsh. The many wind turbines on the horizon are striking.
From the "Bollener Dorfkrug", you can take a detour to the Weser by taking the left path at the intersection.
If you want to continue hiking immediately, turn right onto "Bollener Landstraße". At the next intersection, turn right onto "Bollener Dorfstraße". The path leads through the Ackermarsch here.
Just before the end of "Geestkampsweg", hike to the right on the low summer dike until you reach the Hilgenberg residential area (12), which belongs to the Uphusen district (13). Turn right onto "Am Weserberg" towards "Am See" street. On this path, you will pass by the "Sand Dry Grass Nature Reserve" (14), and on your right lies the Bierden Cemetery, inaugurated in the summer of 1989. Continue straight ahead on "In den Bergen" street until you meet the dike again. Follow the Bierden Marsh and the dike back to Achim, where you can return to the starting point via "Unterstraße" and "Kleine Kirchenstraße".

Places of interest/Information:

(1) Village of Achim:
The area with the historic St. Laurentius Church and the surrounding buildings is known as the Achim Farmers' Quarter or the "old village of Achim". In total, 14 homesteads (large farms) were mostly cultivated until the 20th century. Historically, they are likely the oldest settlement sites in the area. Also noteworthy here is the Clüverhaus (Große Kirchenstraße 1), a typical Lower Saxon two-post timber-framed farmhouse, which was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the previous building in 1824, later purchased and restored by the city in the 1970s. Where once humans and animals lived under one roof, there is now an integrative café. Following the restoration of the old timber-framed barn at the neighboring farmstead Meislahn (Kleine Kirchenstraße 2), some panels with willow lattice have been reinstalled.

(2) St. Laurentius Church:
First mentioned in writing in 1257, this building is the oldest structure in the city. The church served as a refuge during times of war and fires. Originally built as a Romanesque fieldstone structure, the church was later expanded with two chapels, among other additions. Noteworthy features include the 1631 pulpit, the late Baroque altar from 1750, and a late Romanesque baptismal font. www.st-laurentius-achim.de, Church tour: Achim Tourist Information, Tel. (04202) 2949, www.achim.de.

(3) Former Prison:
To the right side is a house with foundations partly made of boulders. In ancient times, this was the prison of the Gohgerichtes Achim. A small plaque on the wall provides information about this house.

(4) "Am Werder":
The street name (Werder = island) recalls that this Achim district became an island during Weser River floods.

(5) Village of Bierden:
The village of Bierden was already mentioned in writing in 1059. Archaeological finds attest to its ancient settlement area. Originally, Bierden was a pure farming village, but it grew rapidly after World War II due to an influx of displaced persons. Over time, the number of full-time farmers decreased, and instead, commercial enterprises settled in. In 1972, the village of Bierden became a district of Achim due to a territorial reform.
Tip: An information board from the Achim local history association with the village's history can be found at the cyclist rest area on Fahrenholzstraße/Auf dem Brink (about 350 m from Gasthaus "Zur Linde").

(6) Dike:
The dike, with its height, forms a special dry biotope with its own plant species. Wild bees and bumblebees dig their nesting tubes into the dam.

(7) Bierden Marsh:
The marsh landscape here largely retains its original character as a grazing marsh with hawthorn hedges and interspersed trees such as pedunculate oaks, ash trees, field maple, and many other trees. Smaller bodies of water and drainage ditches complement the habitat for wildlife. The call of the cuckoo is often heard from afar.

(8) Clüversee:
On the island in Clüversee, a large colony of grey herons and rooks can occasionally be observed. The breeding activities of both species begin in April with nest building or repairs and end in early July with the fledging of the last young herons. The pond is home to coots and moorhens, as well as a pair of Egyptian geese who, originally zoo escapees, now permanently belong to the landscape. In summer, the croaking of marsh frogs can be heard from afar.

(9) Gut Clüverswerder:
Gut Clüverswerder was once a well-fortified water castle with ramparts and moats. It belonged to the Clüver family, which had been established in Achim since around 1100. The last heir of the estate died in 1660, after which it was in Swedish hands until 1772. In 1772, the estate was purchased by a citizen of Bremen.

(10) "Pannen" Swamp Area:
To the right towards Bollen lies a small wetland area, the so-called "Pannen", a refuge for water and marsh birds. The dense wooded strips adjacent often echo with the nightingale's song in the early summer months.

(11) Village of Bollen:
First mentioned in a document around 1120 as "Bonlande", the village has been known as Bollen (Middle Low German "settlement on the hill") since 1515. Until 1914, farmers could cross to the other side of the Weser using a ferry. The idyllic village is now characterized by equestrian farms and offers a natural haven for campers on the surrounding campsites directly on the Weser. Tip: Also, take note of the information board from the Achim local history association with the village's history opposite the "Bollener Dorfkrug".

(12) Hilgenberg Residential Area:
The name comes from Middle Low German and means "holy mountain". In an adjacent wooded area, the Jacobikapelle is said to have stood in ancient times.

(13) Village of Uphusen:
First mentioned in 1219, the village of Uphusen has prehistoric finds suggesting that the area was inhabited over 3000 years ago. Around 1900, a chain of dunes with elevations of up to 20 meters shaped the landscape. Due to industrial development, the sand dunes and heath areas disappeared.

(14) Sand Dry Grass Nature Reserve with Ellisee:
This area, placed under nature protection in 1994, is part of a dune ridge formed after the Ice Age through drifting sands. The originally massive dune chain extended from Bremen-Lesum through Achim and Verden to Nienburg. Nutrient-poor sand dry grasslands are now rare to find. They provide an indispensable habitat for specialized and endangered species such as wild bees, beetles, and grasshoppers. The Ellisee was named after the last owner of the former building site by the lake, Elli Züwering, remembered by many Uphusen residents as Kösters Elli. Established in 1843 by Hinrich Köster as a solitary property between Bierden and Uphusen on the old post road from Bremen to Verden. Therefore, it was only natural to name the nameless body of water created by sand extraction through suction dredgers as "Ellisee". This naming has also become part of the official language over time.

You can also find the tour on Komoot.

Safety information:
Throughout the tour, it is advised to walk the paths at your own risk. No guarantee is provided for the usability of the paths. Increased attention is generally required in cities/towns. Be aware of danger spots on the tour, such as bollards, barriers, and unsecured crossings.