Introduction:Hello and welcome to the Wedemark.The followring guide has been created by the pupils from the “English-Club” (years 7 and 8) at Gymnasium Mellendorf, to inform particularly foreign guests and visitors about interesting sights and beautiful places.We hope you will like our recommendations and enjoy your stay in one of the nicest recreation grounds in Lower Saxony. The Wedemark is great for horse riding, walking, cycling, inline skating, swimming etc.It`s a quiet and calm area where a lot of people have their own houses, but the housing in this area is very expensive.This is the Wedemark’s coat of arms which is very colourful: It is yellow, green and blue and shows a green oak treein the background and a blue lion in front of it.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedemark

Some interesting facts about the Wedemark:The Wedemark is a community near Hanover. It covers an area of 173 km² and has got about 30.000 inhabitants.Besides, the airport of Hanover is very close.The present mayor is Helge Zychlinski.The Wedemark is famous for its nature and recreation grounds.The region is divided into 17 parts:Abbensen Bennemühlen Berkhof(with Plumhof an Sprockhof),Bissendorf Bissendorf-WietzeBrelingen Duden-Rodenbostel,Elze GailhofHellendorf MeitzeMellendorf Negenborn,Oegenbostel( with Bestenbostel and Ibsingen)Resse Wennebostel Scherenbostel( with Schlage-Ickhorst and Wiechendorf) and Wennebostel-WietzeSome of these parts have got their own mayors.

Here is a map of the Wedemark:

Source: https://www.viamichelin.de/web/Karten-Stadtplan/Karte_Stadtplan-Wedemark-_-Niedersachsen-Deutschland?strLocid=31M25mczEwY05USXVOVE01TkRZPWNPUzQzTlRJM013PT0=

Some historical facts about the Wedemark:Today´s Wedemark is the result of a voluntary association of several settlements, based on mutual protection and support.It was difficult to cultivate the soil, because it too sandy and swampy. That´s why only buckwheat was grown.So people only lived from the horse, honey and bulls trade. In the 19th century the landscape was covered by wind- and watermills. A brickyard to process all the clay, which lay there, was built in Mellendorf.In 1889 the railway “Langenhagen-Schwarmstedt” was built.Two years later the train stations in Bissendorf, Mellendorf, Bennemühlen, Lindwedel and Hope were built.

Since 1962 the Wedemark with all its parts as well as the administrative district of Burgdorf has belonged to the Hanover conurbation.The name “Wedemark” refers to the history and nature in this area where there are a lot of forests, too.In addition to that, the word “Wede” is old German and means forest. There is no other place with the same name in Germany.

Companies:There are some international companies in the Wedemark, among them for example Sennheiser. The enterprise produces microphones, headphones and other audio equipment. The products are sold worldwide.Sennheiser´s office in the Wedemark:

In Schlage-Ickhorst there is another important enterprise: “GIESEKE COSMETIC INTERNATIONAL”.Additionally, many more employers in the Wedemark provide jobs in different areas, like for example in electronics, packaging or in the retail trade.

Public transport and other ways to get to the Wedemark

The Wedemark has three suburban stations. They are in Mellendorf, Bennemühlen and Bissendorf.You can get to all these stations by suburban train from Hanover Central Station (line S4). A ride from Hanover Central Station to Mellendorf for example only takes about 30 minutes.Besides, you can travel to the Wedemark by car via the motorways BAB 7, BAB 352 and the roads L 190, L 383 and L 310.The next airport is in Hanover-Langenhagen. You can go there by suburban train,too, when you change trains in Langenhagen-Mitte or in Langenhagen-Pferdemarkt( direction airport).Of course you can also travel by bus in the Wedemark, when you want to visit other villages(for example with the lines 690, 692 and 698 to Bissendorf).Here you are a map of the transport system in the Wedemark:

http://efa.de/index.php?id=fahrplanauskunft&fullScreen=open

SIGHTSThe “MoorIZ”

The MoorIz is an information center about the moor landscape in Hanover. Here you can start tours through the moor. If you are interested in the moor or nature it is a real must-see.

The entry is free.Opening times:

From Wednesdays to Sundays from 11:00am to 5:00pm

A tour costs:

For children up to 10 years : 2€

For adults: 4€

“Spaßbad Wedemark”The Spaßbad is the only outdoor swimming pool in the Wedemark. It is open from 30th April to 31st August in summer. For most people it is the best outdoor swimming pool nearby.

Opening times:

From Mondays to Fridays from 6:30am to 8:00pm.

On Saturdays it’s open from 8:00am to 8:00pm and

on Sundays from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

The tickets cost:

For children and students: 2€

For adults: 3€

When you come after 6:00pm from Mondays to Fridays it only costs

2€ for adults and 1,50€ for children.

The Ice HouseThe Ice House is the ice scating rink in the Wedemark. It is very good for families but also for singles or couples. You can borrow the equipment there.Opening hours:

From Mondays to Fridays and on Sundays from 8.45am to 11.30am.You can also go there from Thursdays to Sundays from 2.45pm to 5.30pm.On Saturdays it is open from 10.10am to 11.25am,too.During the local school vacations you can also go there in the afternoons from 2:45pmto 5:30pm.

On Thursdays from 5:00 to 8:00pm there is a special event : The Ice Disco. Then you can scate on the ice while enjoying different music and the light effects.

It costs:

For children : 2.50€

For adults : 3.50€

Borrowing ice scates :3.50€

Ice Disco : 4€

The season usually starts on September 1st and it ends on March 31st .

„The Geo-Erlebnispfad“The “Geo-Erlebnispfad” is a nature park at the “Brelinger Berg”, the “mountain” in the Wedemark. It is not a real mountain, but it is rather a hill. The various stations are the result of a project which is supposed to show the visitors the different designs and to teach them about the scientific background. You can explore the area best when you take a walk , because the “Brelinger Berg” is really a must-see.

The Dairy “Hemme”“Hemme” is the local dairy in the Wedemark. If you are interested in products made of milk, you can visit the “Hemme “ farm with dairy , while doing a tour nearby or you simply visit “Hemme´s” yardcafé. Tours are organized from April to October on the first and third Sunday of the month. They last an hour. You need no application. From April to October the yardcafé and the milk shop is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 o´clock am to 6 o´clock pm. You can enjoy the milk with café and cake in various locations. For kids they have got a cool barn where the children can play.

The “Richard-Brandt” local museum The Richard-Brandt local museum is a home museum about the Wedemark. There you can see a prehistoric as well as a local exhibition. If you want to learn more about this region you should go there. At present there are no fixed opening times , but if you are interested you can phone Karl-Hans Konert (05130 790396) or the public library in Bissendorf (05130 7168) to apply for a tour.

FOODAre you hungry?There are many places to eat delicious, international food, for example restaurants, fast food places and coffee shops. Here we have got a little selection of widely recommended restaurants in the Wedemark. If you like German food, you can go to “Gasthaus Goltermann”. The opening times are from Wednesdays to Sundays from 11:30am to 2:00pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm. For more information you can contact their webstie: www.Gasthaus-Goltermann.de. You can go to “Gasthaus Stucke”, too. There the opening times are from Thursdays to Tuesdays from 11:00am to 2:00pm, warm meals are offered until 1:30pm and from 5:00pm to midnight. The internet address is www.Gasthaus-Stucke.de. But if you want to enjoy Italian food, you can eat at “Restaurante Italiano”. The opening times are from Mondays to Sundays from 12:00am to 3:00pm and 6:00pm to midnight. Warm meals are offered until 10:30pm. Another good Italian restaurant is the Restaurant Pinocchio Bella Vista. Except for Tuesdays and Sundays it is always open from 5:30pm to 11:00pm. On Tuesdays it is closed and on Sundays and national holidays it is open from 12:00am to 5:30pm and from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. Are you looking for a good Greek restaurant, too? For example you can go to “Restaurant Syrtaki”. There the opening times are from Mondays to Saturdays from 5:00pm to 11:00pm, but every first Monday in the month, it is closed. On Sundays and national holidays it is open from 12:00am to 2:30pm and from 5:00pm to 11:00pm. If you need more information, you can go on the website www.griechisches-restaurant-syrtaki.de. “Restaurant Artemis” is another widely recommended restaurant with delicious Greek food. Their opening times are from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 5:00pm to 11:00pm. On Sundays it is open from 12:00am to

3:00pm and from 5:00pm to 11:00pm. In case you are looking for some good fish, I can1 recommend the restaurant “Forellenstübchen”. You can go- there from Tuesdays to Fridays from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. On Saturdays it opens an hour earlier and on Sundays or national holidays you can already enjoy your meal at noon. In January and February it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. From May to October you may reserve a table on Saturdays from 12:00am to 3:00pm and from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Contact www.Forellenstuebchen.de to find out more about the restaurant. A restaurant where you can enjoy vegan and vegetarian food is “Beans Country”. From Mondays to Fridays you can go there from afternoons (1:00pm) to midnight and on Saturdays and Sundays it is already open at 9:00am. You can enjoy warm meals from 5:30pm to 10:00pm and at the weekends and on national holidays you can have brunch from 9:00am to 2:00am. The internet address is www.deinbeans.de.Of course there are other good restaurants in the Wedemark, so you can look for some more on the internet.

Are you hungry and in a hurry?Hello, I am Paul and I am in year 8 and a member of “The English Club” of the Gymnasium Mellendorf.You can find a lot of different fast food places that offer good meals at low prices. If you are interested in fast food places which offer chips, burgers etc. you can go to the following places.The best fast food place is “Schlemmereck” and it is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 12.00a.m. to 9.00p.m.. On Sundays it is closed. It is in Mellendorf, 13 Kaltenweider-Straße .

There is also “ Lucky´s” which is a Greek fast food place. It is open from Mondays to Sundays from 11.30a.m. to 10.00p.m. but it is closed on Tuesdays. It is in Mellendorf, 16 Am Meierhof.Another good fast food place is “Tamo`s Salate”. It is a Turkish restaurant. It is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 8.00a.m. to 9.00p.m. but it is closed on Sundays. It is in Mellendorf, 96 Wedemarkstraße .In the Wedemark there are only two cafés. The first one is the only ice-cream parlour in the Wedemark and it is called “Dal Cin”. It is in Mellendorf, 5-7 Am langen Felde. Its opening times are from Mondays to Saturdays from 9.00a.m. to 10.00p.m. and on Sundays it opens an hour earlier but it is always closed from November to February.The other café is called “Vatter”. It is located in 46“Wedemarkstraße. It is open from Mondays to Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 6.00p.m. but at the weekends it already closes at 5.oop.m.

HOTELSBrunnenhof:   The hotel Brunnenhof is a three- and four-star hotel. The hotel is in the south of the Wedemark, that means in 1 Burgwedeler Street. The equipment in the rooms are different, but every room has got free W-Lan access. There is also a good restaurant and you can get for free breakfast. IF you go there by car you can park your car on free parking lot without paying. In case you arrive by

plane, you can use the airport shuttle service. Have you got a pet? No problem. You can take your pet along with you. But be careful: Smoking is not allowed in the hotel. Unfortunately the rooms are expensive. A single three-star room costs 79 Euros each night, Besides, a double three-star room costs 99 euros. The prices for the four-Star version are 89 euros and 118 euros.  The "Wedemark Pension"   The "Wedemark Pension" is a modern pension. The prices for the rooms are rather low. A room costs between 39 euros and 69 euros a night. The rooms measure about 15 to 24 square meters. They are names after the villages in the Wedemark, like for example Abbensen. If you like, you can bring your pet with you. But in this case you must pay 10 euros extra. If you have a child under 5, you need not pay for the room and the child's breakfast. The "Wedemark Pension"  is in Mellendorf, in 6 Industrieweg. In the morning  you can have breakfast, which only costs 9,50 euros. But if you want, you can prepare your own meal in the kitchen, too. You can use the kitchen without any extra costs. 

"Altes Zöllnerhaus"   The hotel and restaurant "Altes Zöllnerhaus" is located in Schlage-Ickhorst. The hotel has got four single rooms thirteen double rooms. The hotel provides W-Lan access and breakfast for free. Next to the hotel is the restaurant. If you have a pet, you can bring it with you. In the restaurant you can order  food from the region and typical German Specialities, but you can also eat seasonal dishes like for example asparagus in May. Guests who arrive by car are "lucky" because "Altes Zöllnerhaus" has got his own private car park in the front of the hotel-restaurant.

ACTIVITIESHello.My name is Silvan and I'm a student at ''Gymnasiun Mellendorf'' and a member of the ''English Club'' ( year 7/8 ).In the following I want to show you some of the places in the Wedemark, that are great for in -and outdoor activities.You want to stay fit? So, you can go to:

1.Heike Mussmann's Pro Feel Health Club(Fittness studio)

The opening hours are: On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays : 9:00-22:00 h On Tuesdays and Thursdays : 9:00-22:30 h On Saturdays :12:00-18:00 h On Sundays : 9:00-14:00 h

You can find the fitness studio in 39 Industriestraße in Mellendorf.

2.Camping site of Natels HeideseeThe recreation area is a perfect place to relax close to nature but there are many other activities which you can do there. For example:You can go swimming, walking, cycling etc. But if you want to get inside the recreation area, you must pay for the entry. Don't worry, it is not expensive!

Address: Regeldamm (Bissendorf-Wieze)

3.Appels Bowling CentreIf you want to have fun, just go bowling at “Apples' Bowling Centre“.Opening hours: From Mondays to Fridays : 17-24 h On Saturdays : 14-24 h On Sundays : 10-24 h

Address: 28 Kaltenweider Straße in Mellendorf

Phone number: 05130 371040

4.Andreas Bochmann's Yoga-StudioYou want to relax and you like Yoga?Then you can go to Andreas Bochmann's Yoga-Studio. There are different courses for everybody.Here is a selection:Early Bird Morning Yoga, Yoga, Yoga Basic, Ying Yang Yoga, Vin Yasa Yoga, Chilling Friday Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga for beginners and Vinyasa Yoga.You can join the courses from Tuesdays to Sundays. The studio opens half an hour before the courses begin.

Adress: 28 Brelinger Straße, 30900 WedemarkYou can find Andreas Bochmann Yogastudio in between Mellendorf and Bissendorf.

For further information, please contact the studio (Phone number: 05130 6090245 ).

5.

'Adventure Park Mellendorf'If you are here with your children, you can go to the adventure park in Mellendorf. It is an indoor playground, where you can run riot and have fun.

Adults only pay four euros and a ticket for children costs eight euros.

The leisure center is open from Mondays to Fridays :14-19h and from Saturdaysto Sundays :10-19h

You can find 'Adventure Park Mellendorf' in 6 Am Freizeipark, Mellendorf.

These are some of the activities, you can do in the Wedemark.

Have much fun!!!