The river Aller

What makes the Aller so special?The Aller-Leine Valley is an enchanting river landscape that snuggles up to the Aller. The Aller is not a big river like the Elbe or the Weser, but very impressive and truly romantic. Broad, quiet and leisurely, the Aller draws its shimmering blue ribbon through the Aller-Leine valley in a loop. Its calm speed attracts river hikers magically and gives them hours close to nature in the idyllic landscape. Cows graze on their banks, horses graze on lush green grass and even cranes and herons stalk leisurely through the meadows after a fishing trip and enjoy the idyllic nature.


Course of the Aller

The Aller originates in Saxony-Anhalt near Seehausen in the Magdeburger Börde and flows after 211 km northeast of Verden into the Weser. The river meadows are mostly used as grassland and the often humid lowlands offer ideal conditions for flora and fauna. The Aller flows through the residence town of Celle and can be navigated from the harbour, so that it is considered a waterway. It is particularly suitable for larger groups and multi-day tours. Along the river there are numerous canoe operators, jetties, accommodation and campsites. Boye, Stedden, Oldau, Winsen (Aller), Weißer Stein, Schleuse Bannetze and Jeversen/Thören on the K65 are all good places to get in and out.


The Aller-Leine valley - home of many white storks

The Aller-Leine valley with the clean Aller and its idyllic villages is a true paradise for white storks. Especially the wide meadows along the Aller provide enough food for the white storks to raise their young. Every year from the end of March to the beginning of April, the white storks return from their warm winter quarters to their existing breeding nests and begin to mate. A white-stork can lay up to five eggs and the brood-duration amounts between 30-32 days.

In the middle of August, the Weißstörche say goodbye again from the Aller-Leine-Tal and retreat into its warm winter-quarters.


The best time to observe old and young storks in their nests is from mid-May to mid-July. Then the young storks become fledged and explore the surrounding fields and meadows. Almost every place in the Aller-Leine valley has a stork's nest. Sometimes it is the chimney of the bakery and sometimes the roof of a farm or even the church tower of the parish pastor on which the stork built his nest. Learn more about the storks from our stork pastor!

A bicycle tour from stork's nest to stork's nest is the most beautiful way to visit the storks in the Aller-Leine valley. Two 40 km long round tours lead you directly to the nests of the storks. From mid-July, we recommend that you let your eyes wander attentively over the landscape while cycling. Because then the young storks are curious, leave their nests and travel on meadows and fields. Also stop by at one of our stork cinemas!


Premium cycle path: Aller cycle path

The Aller cycle path is the premium cycle path of the Lüneburger Heide and leads you on safe and well signposted cycle paths along the Aller through the secluded Urstrom valley. In addition to varied sights, you will encounter a technical rarity. On fixed ferry dates you can take a historic dry-footed yaw rope ferry across the Aller.