Duderstadt lies on the southern edge of the Harz Mountains. The townscape, with more than 600 half-timbered houses from different architectural periods, has been preserved with remarkable unity. This makes Duderstadt one of the best-known half-timbered towns in Germany.
Among the most striking buildings are the Basilica of St. Cyriakus, St. Servatius Church, the West Tower, and the Town Hall. The West Tower was built centuries ago together with watchtowers, ramparts, and walls as part of the town’s fortifications. The Town Hall is one of the oldest buildings of its kind in Germany. These constructions shape the silhouette of the medieval town and can be recognised from far away. Around the old town, you’ll find community gardens with a natural layout, green spaces with flowers and shrubs, as well as the old ring wall with lime and chestnut trees. A spacious pedestrian area complements the townscape. Just outside Duderstadt is the Heinz Sielmann Nature Experience Centre on the former town estate of Herbigshagen. Here, you can spend time in nature at the Nature Experience House and in the large outdoor area with orchards and animal enclosures.
Only a few kilometres away, in Teistungen, lies the Borderland Museum Eichsfeld. It is located in the former customs buildings of the Duderstadt–Worbis border crossing. Situated on the Green Belt, it presents an exhibition on Germany’s division inside the building. Outside, you can see authentic border barrier installations. The circular hiking route "Eichsfeld Border Traces" connects the Borderland Museum, Herbigshagen estate, and Duderstadt’s old town. The route is about 21 kilometres long and leads through diverse landscapes.
In the surroundings of Duderstadt, two more natural attractions await you: Lake Seeburg, one of the largest natural lakes in Lower Saxony, and the Rhume Spring, one of the largest karst springs in Europe. The lake invites you to swim, while the protected shores provide a habitat for many animal species. The spring water of the Rhume is especially clear.
