The Cabbage Route
The highest concentration of cabbage growing land in Europe is located in northern Germany, in the Dithmarschen district. The German Cabbage Route is a 130 kilometer long route that introduces visitors to the land where this vegetable - one of the basics of German gastronomy – grows, reaching the National Park Wadden Sea, Natural Heritage of UNESCO.
Details
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Germany Description
Cabbage is one of the most famous gastronomic symbols of Germany and is used in a lot of traditional dishes. Germany is internationally well known for being a major consumer of cabbage and an exporter of sauerkraut. In order to explore the land where this versatile vegetable grows, visitors can follow the Cabbage Route, a discovery journey along northern Dithmarschen, one of the major cabbage growing areas in Europe, which covers almost 7,000 acres. Each year about 80 million cabbages are harvested here. The healthy vegetable has become the advertising medium and quality symbol of the region.
This 130 kilometer German Cabbage Route runs through the northern region of Germany, surrounded by the North Sea, Eider and Elbe estuaries and Kiel Canal, offering the perfect mixture of gastronomy, nature and culture. It’s a welcome addition to Germany’s food and wine-themed discovery routes.
In Dithmarschen district (Dithmarschen is just an hour’s drive from Hamburg) every year are collected about 80 million cabbages of different types: Lisa Cabbage cabbage, red cabbage, cabbage Milan, cabbage beef heart and cauliflower grown here in large areas.
The best time to discover this route is in September, when the traditional festival takes place, to celebrate the cabbage collection: the" Dithmarschen days cabbage”. It’s one of the most traditional autumn festivals where visitors can sample hearty dishes made with cabbage and enjoy activities related to this healthy vegetable.
In addition to the cabbage experience, the North Sea region offers many others attractions, such as the National Park Wadden Sea, which is a UNESCO heritage site. The hydrothermal station by the sea in Busum, the investigation station and breeding seals center in Friedrichskoog, or the capital district, Heide, are some of the points of interest in the area. History lovers must visit the Cathedral of Meldorf and those interested in technology will enjoy a really different experience in Brunsbuttel, the city of locks, where the Kiel Canal flows into the Elbe.
Links of interest
| Dithmarschen Official Site |
| German National Tourist Board |