Nature & Landscape

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Stade is located...

along the Elbe and is a central location in the lower Elbe region between Hamburg and Cuxhaven. The town region of today along with the municipalities which joined in 1973 encompass 11,003 ha with 48,600 inhabitants.

The town is characterised by several landscapes, including the Elbe marsh, sandy moor lands, and the Schwinge. The several loops of the Schwinge flow through the town region and, together with the spacious marshlands, form a large connected nature reserve within the administrative district of Stade.

The Elbe marshes in the south-eastern Stade region are marked by the adjacent fruit plantations of the Altes Land. The impressively colourful fruit blossoms attract several visitors to Stade every year in the springtime. The Elbe marsh is otherwise used as grasslands. The Stade and Bützfleth Moors, with their unique moor land settlements, are used as pure grasslands.
The agriculture in the moor lands is primarily focussed on tillage. They form the transition to the Elbe marshes and the Schwinge valley.

Green areas along the town wall as well as fortress moats surround the historical old town centre of Stade. The wall, which was built as a protective measure by the Swedes in the 17th century, was razed in the 19th century. The wall, which for the most part has been preserved, is today used as a green area along with the fortress moats. The trees and bushes of the wall's green areas for the border between the old town centre and the town's expansion area. The narrow green strip and its projecting bastions form a ring which marks the town's original "blueprint" and characterises the townscape. The Schwinge and its meadows stretch up to the old town centre and along with the Benedixland's meadows, pastures, and orchards, form a network with the green areas of the wall which extend to the town's surrounding areas, comprising a connected biotope.
Open areas and green parts of the inner section of the wall meet to form a recreational and developmental function for pedestrians and cyclists as well as an area of fresh air for an otherwise densely built up old town centre.