Winsen, District capital in Lower Saxony, Germany
Winsen is a district capital in Lower Saxony, located 25 kilometers southeast of Hamburg and 20 kilometers northwest of Lüneburg. The town spreads where the Luhe River meets the Elbe, and the historic center shows half-timbered houses and narrow lanes along the old riverbank.
The Diocese of Verden first mentioned the settlement in 1158, which led to the construction of a castle at the river crossing in 1315. A major fire devastated the town in 1585 and forced residents to rebuild many structures.
The late Gothic Church of Saint Mary rises in the old town center and displays windows created by artist Claus Wallner. Visitors can enter the church outside of services and view the vaulted ceilings shaped by red brick, built between 1415 and 1465.
The Marstall building houses the tourism office, public library, local history museum, and event spaces for community gatherings. Visitors can learn about walking paths along the rivers and obtain maps for exploring the surrounding area.
The Blaufärberhaus with its Renaissance decorations was built after the town fire of 1585 and remains the oldest residential structure in the community. The facade still shows the original carvings and traces of color that recall the craft of the blue dyers who once treated fabrics there.
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