Stöckse: Boulder, Lake and Forest Trails

Giebichenstein, Lake and Traces in the Landscape

The Giebichenstein is estimated to weigh 330 tonnes. It is 7.5 metres long, 4.5 metres wide and 3.7 metres high; one metre of it lies underground. Alongside the boulder in Tonnenheide in North Rhine-Westphalia, it is the largest erratic boulder in northern Germany. Its dimensions make the scale of the stone especially striking.

Lake Stöckse is a small natural lake surrounded by forest, near the Giebichenstein. It was created by dredging. Two different natural features are therefore found close together: the boulder as a distinctive, solitary rock formation, and the lake with its wooded surroundings. A stone ring, exposed and without capstones, can also be discovered within sight of the Giebichenstein.

Nearby, an approximately one-kilometre circular trail leads through the forest past various burial mounds. Its circular route sets it apart from trails designed for longer or differently structured explorations.

Trails for Different Ways of Exploring

The Krähe forest area stretches along both sides of County Road 3 and consists of forest, moorland and heathland. The signposted trails there are suitable for Nordic walking, hiking and cycling. This means you can choose from different ways of getting around without having to commit to just one way of exploring.

Another option is the STEINreich tour through the municipality of Stöckse. It can be started or ended at any point of interest and explored in full or in part by bike or on foot. This offers different stages for planning: you can consider the tour as a whole or select individual sections.

A different type of route is a roughly three-kilometre cycle path, built in 2022 from the outskirts of Stöckse through the Krähe forest area to the settlement of the same name. The settlement is halfway along the route to Nienburg. By comparison, the trail past the burial mounds is a circular route of about one kilometre; the two descriptions therefore refer to routes of different lengths and forms.

Mill History in the Municipality

The Ahrbeck post mill was built in 1870 in Wenden, a district of the municipality of Stöckse. It is a recognised cultural monument and has three sets of millstones: a large one, a small one and a groats mill. These different names provide a concrete insight into the mill’s equipment and complement the nature themes with a focus on cultural history.

Culture and Experiences in the Wider Nienburg Destination

In the wider Nienburg destination, the Museum Nienburg traces the development of the Middle Weser region, from the presence of the first people to the present day, in three historic buildings. Its main building is the Fresenhof, a manor house dating from the 16th century. The museum also includes the Asparagus Museum, the Biedermeier Garden and a lapidarium; the Neoclassical villa offers deeper insights into the 19th century.

The Weser and Aller also offer a different kind of experience, with the Mittelweser fleet’s sightseeing, experience and charter cruises. Departures are available from Nienburg or Verden. As the operator maintains the timetables separately, it is worth checking the current schedule if you are planning a cruise.

The wider Nienburg destination also includes the Münchehagen Dinosaur Park in Rehburg-Loccum. More than 300 dinosaur footprints can be seen there, bearing witness to a time around 140 million years ago. Activities that children can take part in include excavating a 25-metre-long skeleton, particularly for younger children. So, alongside the landscape and mill themes in Stöckse, the wider destination also offers an experience specifically geared towards young children.

Choose a Holiday Apartment Based on Your Travel Interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Stöckse, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on. The Giebichenstein, lake, forest, moorland, heathland and the trails described here make up the local nature and landscape offering. If you would also like to include museums, boat trips or activities at the Dinosaur Park, you can add the wider Nienburg destination’s attractions to your travel plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Rehburg, Steyerberg, Pennigsehl, Raddestorf, Heemsen, Wietzen, Mittelweser, Steimbke.

Back to the main travel overview: Nienburg.