Altes Land

The Altes Land (Old Land), just south of the Elbe River, is the largest contiguous fruit-growing region in Northern Europe and one of the best day trips from Hamburg. In spring the orchards turn white and pink with blossom, in autumn there are apple weeks and farm shops, and all year round half-timbered houses with ornate gateways shape the landscape. A good starting point for a visit is the village of Jork, where the tourist office is located.

How the Altes Land came to be

Dutch settlers colonized the area between about 1130 and 1230. The name comes from the Low German "Olland," meaning "old land." The region belonged to the Archbishopric of Bremen, its self-government ended in 1932, and parts became part of Hamburg in 1937 and 1938. Along the river, the land is divided into three "Meilen," reflecting the order in which they were diked and settled.

The fruit-growing area covers about 10,700 hectares (26,400 acres). Apples make up about 77 percent of the trees and cherries about 12.7 percent. Because of climate change, apple blossom now starts several weeks earlier than it used to.

What to see

• Blossom season: cherry and apple blossom runs from about mid-April to mid-May. The tourism association runs a "blossom barometer" on its website. Jork holds its big blossom festival on the first weekend of May.
• Half-timbered houses: typical are the half-timbered farmhouses with bridal doors and ornate garden gates. The street Am Fleet in Jork is a good place for photos.
• Museum Altes Land in Jork: tells the history of the region.
• Churches and organs: the churches of the region house organs by Arp Schnitger.
• Twielenfleth lighthouse: a popular spot on the Elbe.
• Seasons: the cherry festival with a cherry market at the Jork town hall takes place in July, and apple weeks run from August to October.

Planning your visit

Plan half a day to a full day for a bike tour with stops in Jork; this is our estimate. The Obstroute (Fruit Route) runs in two sections of 36 and 37 kilometers along the Elbe and the orchards, passing the town of Stade and fairy-tale town Buxtehude. The regional cycling network covers about 1,000 kilometers, and the Elbe Cycle Route runs through the area. The cycling map costs 3.50 euros at the tourist offices in Jork and Lühe.

Admission and opening hours (as of October 2026)

The landscape is free to explore. The museum, farm shops and events have their own hours, so check ahead. The Altes Land tourist office is at Osterjork 10, 21635 Jork; its hours change by season, so check tourismus-altesland.de.

How to get there

From Hamburg you can come by car, bike or bus. The Elbe Radwanderbus (cycling bus) runs from mid-April to October 3 and takes bikes; guests from Hamburg can use the stop at the Finkenwerder ferry pier. A bike tour can also start with a ferry ride from Blankenese: a HADAG ferry connects Blankenese with Cranz and Neuenfelde on the south bank. Check current timetables with HVV and the tourism association.

Nearby

Across the Elbe lies Blankenese with its stair quarter. The Hanseatic city of Stade and the fairy-tale town of Buxtehude are on the Fruit Route.