Townscape of Schneverdingen
Schneverdingen is located in the north-west part of the administrative district Heidekreis. Ehrhorn, Großenwede, Heber, Insel, Langeloh, Lünzen, Schülern, Wesseloh, Wintermoor and Zahrensen are parts of Schneverdingen. The town has an area of 234 km². About a third is part of the nature reserve "Lüneburger Heide".
Schneverdingen has 18.873 inhabitants (state: 01.11.2010). Since 1972 the town is entitled to bear the denomination "Luftkurort". The denomination is assigned in Germany to localities, whose air and climate show characteristics, which are beneficial for recovery and health.
1976 Schneverdingen gained city rights. Schneverdingen is twinned since 1995 with Barlinek (Poland) and since 2001 with Eskö (Sweden).
The town is an associate of the company "Stadtwerke Schneverdingen GmbH", which is responsible for the supply of electricity, gas and water. The company is runner of the public swimming baths. The town together with the company "Stadtwerke Schneverdingen GmbH" have established the company "Stadt GmbH", which is responsible for the sewage disposal, for the tourism and for the urban development.
Schneverdingen was first mentioned in 1231, when the bishop Iso von Verden forced the appointee Lippold von Zahrenhusen to renounce the Bailiwick of "Snewordinge". A relic of this time is the bronze font of the 14th century in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church Peter and Paul, which was built in 1746.
Church Peter-und-Paul
On the occasion of Heathblossom Festival 1937 Schneverdingen has been granted the arms. The silver coat of arms shows a red beam and at the red bottom is located a rose with a golden inside of the bloom. The arms has its origin in the arms of a noble family of Schneverdingen. This family has moved to Lüneburg in the 14th century. 200 years later this family has become extinct. The knightly arms of the family shows a blue knight helmet, surrounded by red plant leaves and two wings with red-white stripes, each adorned with a white rose. The town renounced the adornment and has chosen only the coat of arms with the white rose. The white rose became known by the Heathblossom Festival in Schneverdingen, a traditional citizen’s feast, referred to as "Festival of the White Rose". The first "Festival of the White Rose" takes place in July 1922. A local newspaper of 1928 was also called "The White Rose". In 1936, one year before the awarding of the today’s arms, the "Festival of the White Rose" is renamed "Heathblossom Festival".
In former times life in Schneverdingen is marked by agriculture on poor soil and by smallholder cattle breeding. Crafts increasingly came to the fore around the mid 19th century. Particularly important for the production of shoes was the leather processing. During the heyday of this craft more than 300 shoemakers in Schneverdingen have been producing shoes and boots. The advent of factories helped the town move forward. As a result of structural change in this branch nowadays there is only one company in Schneverdingen producing shoes.
In the years after the Second World War, the town changed from an idyllic village to a lively small town. As a result of the rapid population growth this was the time of significant economic growth, which contributes to the improvement of the infrastructure. Nowadays the townscape is marked by more than 1.000 production facilities from the sectors of industry, craft, trade and services. They provide about 4.000 workplaces.
Due to the unique character of the landscapes the tourism with about 200.000 overnight stays and 1 million day guests has become an important economic factor. This is even more important since in 1994 the military training area was removed. Hotels, guest houses and apartments with a total of 2.400 guest beds as well as diverse catering facilities with a variety of food offers are providing a wide selection of guest amenities.
Schneverdingen is surrounded by extensive heath landscape, silent swamps, forests, fields and meadows with guided paths for walking. After removing the military training area a network of paths for hiking, cycling and horse riding has been extended. Our well-trained guides give you information about the special features of the landscape. Individual travellers, who prefer to explore the environment on their own instead of joining a group, have the possibility to enjoy their tour on an agricultural learning path crossing the scenery of the landscape.
Sundial
A trip to the heath garden "Heidegarten" located in the leisure area called "Höpen" with 140 different heath species and 120.000 plants should not be missed. A visit to the attractive swamp area called "Pietzmoor" is absolutely recommended.
The international training centre for ecology and conversation and meeting place, "Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz", is located on yard "Möhr" beneath old oaks.
The comprehensive sports and recreation offer satisfy desires in all seasons. The public indoor pool "Heidjers Wohl", the open-air swimming pool "Quellenbad", a large sports centre with athletic facilities and courts for various sports, sports halls, an indoor tennis hall, tennis courts, a big festival hall and community centres provides various kinds of activities for inhabitants and guests.
A visit to the local museum "De Theeshof" is highly to be recommended. It is located in a typical building of the region. Its exhibition of local history presents all sorts of things worth seeing. Interested visitors can take advantage of lectures and theatre. In the "Pult- und Federkielmuseum" in the small town of Insel, the everyday school life in recent decades is well described.
The tourist facilities and a good infrastructure offer excellent conditions for visitors as well as for inhabitants. The educational offerings range from primary school to sixth forms. Eleven kindergarten and day care centres take care for the little ones. A meeting place for young people is the youth centre "Freizeitbegegnungsstätte" with attractive rooms and a lot of leisure facilities. Schneverdingen has an own library, an adult education centre, a music school, many social organisations and various churches with their institutions.
More than 100 associations enrich the cultural life in Schneverdingen by organizing special events such as shooting matches, harvest festivals, concerts and dancing. An annual highlight is the "Heathblossom Festival". This local festival is of particular importance for Schneverdingen. It is the biggest local festival of the region "Lüneburger Heide" being celebrated on the last weekend in August.
Fountain of the town
Schneverdingen has 18.873 inhabitants (state: 01.11.2010). Since 1972 the town is entitled to bear the denomination "Luftkurort". The denomination is assigned in Germany to localities, whose air and climate show characteristics, which are beneficial for recovery and health.
1976 Schneverdingen gained city rights. Schneverdingen is twinned since 1995 with Barlinek (Poland) and since 2001 with Eskö (Sweden).
The town is an associate of the company "Stadtwerke Schneverdingen GmbH", which is responsible for the supply of electricity, gas and water. The company is runner of the public swimming baths. The town together with the company "Stadtwerke Schneverdingen GmbH" have established the company "Stadt GmbH", which is responsible for the sewage disposal, for the tourism and for the urban development.
Arms - old version
Schneverdingen was first mentioned in 1231, when the bishop Iso von Verden forced the appointee Lippold von Zahrenhusen to renounce the Bailiwick of "Snewordinge". A relic of this time is the bronze font of the 14th century in the Evangelical-Lutheran Church Peter and Paul, which was built in 1746.
Church Peter-und-Paul
Arms - today's version
On the occasion of Heathblossom Festival 1937 Schneverdingen has been granted the arms. The silver coat of arms shows a red beam and at the red bottom is located a rose with a golden inside of the bloom. The arms has its origin in the arms of a noble family of Schneverdingen. This family has moved to Lüneburg in the 14th century. 200 years later this family has become extinct. The knightly arms of the family shows a blue knight helmet, surrounded by red plant leaves and two wings with red-white stripes, each adorned with a white rose. The town renounced the adornment and has chosen only the coat of arms with the white rose. The white rose became known by the Heathblossom Festival in Schneverdingen, a traditional citizen’s feast, referred to as "Festival of the White Rose". The first "Festival of the White Rose" takes place in July 1922. A local newspaper of 1928 was also called "The White Rose". In 1936, one year before the awarding of the today’s arms, the "Festival of the White Rose" is renamed "Heathblossom Festival".
In former times life in Schneverdingen is marked by agriculture on poor soil and by smallholder cattle breeding. Crafts increasingly came to the fore around the mid 19th century. Particularly important for the production of shoes was the leather processing. During the heyday of this craft more than 300 shoemakers in Schneverdingen have been producing shoes and boots. The advent of factories helped the town move forward. As a result of structural change in this branch nowadays there is only one company in Schneverdingen producing shoes.
In the years after the Second World War, the town changed from an idyllic village to a lively small town. As a result of the rapid population growth this was the time of significant economic growth, which contributes to the improvement of the infrastructure. Nowadays the townscape is marked by more than 1.000 production facilities from the sectors of industry, craft, trade and services. They provide about 4.000 workplaces.
Due to the unique character of the landscapes the tourism with about 200.000 overnight stays and 1 million day guests has become an important economic factor. This is even more important since in 1994 the military training area was removed. Hotels, guest houses and apartments with a total of 2.400 guest beds as well as diverse catering facilities with a variety of food offers are providing a wide selection of guest amenities.
Schneverdingen is surrounded by extensive heath landscape, silent swamps, forests, fields and meadows with guided paths for walking. After removing the military training area a network of paths for hiking, cycling and horse riding has been extended. Our well-trained guides give you information about the special features of the landscape. Individual travellers, who prefer to explore the environment on their own instead of joining a group, have the possibility to enjoy their tour on an agricultural learning path crossing the scenery of the landscape.
Sundial
A trip to the heath garden "Heidegarten" located in the leisure area called "Höpen" with 140 different heath species and 120.000 plants should not be missed. A visit to the attractive swamp area called "Pietzmoor" is absolutely recommended.
The international training centre for ecology and conversation and meeting place, "Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz", is located on yard "Möhr" beneath old oaks.
The comprehensive sports and recreation offer satisfy desires in all seasons. The public indoor pool "Heidjers Wohl", the open-air swimming pool "Quellenbad", a large sports centre with athletic facilities and courts for various sports, sports halls, an indoor tennis hall, tennis courts, a big festival hall and community centres provides various kinds of activities for inhabitants and guests.
A visit to the local museum "De Theeshof" is highly to be recommended. It is located in a typical building of the region. Its exhibition of local history presents all sorts of things worth seeing. Interested visitors can take advantage of lectures and theatre. In the "Pult- und Federkielmuseum" in the small town of Insel, the everyday school life in recent decades is well described.
The tourist facilities and a good infrastructure offer excellent conditions for visitors as well as for inhabitants. The educational offerings range from primary school to sixth forms. Eleven kindergarten and day care centres take care for the little ones. A meeting place for young people is the youth centre "Freizeitbegegnungsstätte" with attractive rooms and a lot of leisure facilities. Schneverdingen has an own library, an adult education centre, a music school, many social organisations and various churches with their institutions.
More than 100 associations enrich the cultural life in Schneverdingen by organizing special events such as shooting matches, harvest festivals, concerts and dancing. An annual highlight is the "Heathblossom Festival". This local festival is of particular importance for Schneverdingen. It is the biggest local festival of the region "Lüneburger Heide" being celebrated on the last weekend in August.
Fountain of the town
