Ruhen-Gifhorn Germany Lower Saxony
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a canal stop, and nothing more: no waterfront, no historic centre. Rühen is a quiet mooring on the Mittelland Canal among the fields of Lower Saxony. Know that before you walk down the gangway, or disappointment is likely.
For what the call gives access to. The large open-air mill museum at Gifhorn, a Renaissance castle and, close by, Wolfsburg and its car city are all reached from this mooring. The stop is worth it for its surroundings, not for itself.
No for the attractions, yes for a stroll. The poplar-lined banks suit a short walk or a bike ride, but Gifhorn and Wolfsburg are reached by coach, usually as organized excursions.
About 30 to 40 minutes, and you should allow two hours on site. The park gathers a dozen full-size windmills and watermills from Spain, Greece, Russia and Korea, along with a striking wooden Orthodox church.
A 16th-century Renaissance castle ringed by a moat, housing the regional history museum, and a quiet centre of half-timbered houses and brick façades. Its curtain walls and bridge give a sense of the former power of the dukes of Brunswick.
Germany's longest artificial canal, a waterway linking the Rhine to the Elbe and the Oder. Opened in stages through the 20th century, it remains a working artery: grain, containers and fuel pass one another slowly along it.
Watch the barges go by, quite simply. The slow ballet of convoys passing one another in a rustle of water holds the attention longer than you would expect, and the bargemen wave readily from the wheelhouse.
Yes, even if you are not a car enthusiast. The Autostadt, a few kilometres away, spreads out brand pavilions, glass towers where new cars wait for their owners, and exhibitions on mobility. Allow two hours on site.
Rather good, in fact. The mill park is all outdoors, you can go inside several buildings, and the waterwheels fascinate small children. Wolfsburg's Autostadt, with its car towers, also works very well with families.
The euro, and bring cash. This is farming country and the shops are concentrated in the two neighbouring towns, Gifhorn and Wolfsburg: at the mooring itself there is nothing. Gifhorn's cafés serve cakes and country bread.
