Cuxhaven, much favored as a health resort on the North Sea, lies at the west end of the Elbe estuary, here 15km/9mi wide. From 1394 to 1937 the town belonged to Hamburg. It is one of Germany's most important fishing ports.
The interesting Wreck Museum in Cuxhaven's Stickenbüttel district contains objects recovered from wrecked ships as well as the history of sea rescue services.
The church known as the Bauerndom (13th and 16th C.) in Cuxhaven's southeastern district of Lüdingworth has a richly decorated Baroque interior and an organ by A. Wilde and Arp Schnitger.
The seaside resort of Duhnen, 5km/3mi west of Cuxhaven's center, which was incorporated in Cuxhaven in 1835, has a beautiful beach (promenade), a spa establishment and an indoor swimming pool (artificial waves).
In the east of Cuxhaven are the fishing harbor and the fish market (interesting fish auctions at 7am; guided tour). Farther east lies the Amerikahafen, built in 1892-1902 especially for the HAPAG Line and enlarged in 1922, but now little used; large passenger liners now moor at the outer mole (Steubenhöft).
At the northernmost tip of land in Cuxhaven's Döse district is the Kurpark, with a sea lion pool and a bird meadow. To the east, at the end of a 250 m/275yd long pier, stands a large wooden spherical beacon, the landmark and emblem of the town.
The Alte Liebe, at the northern tip of Cuxhaven's harbor, is the landing-stage used by boats sailing on the Elbe and to the coastal resorts and Heligoland with a 34 m/112ft high radar tower, a signal station, a wind semaphore and a basin for model ships.
Schloss Ritzebüttel, in the south of the oldest part of Cuxhaven, has a defensive tower built about 1300 and enlarged in 1616. It now houses the Heimatmuseum.
Address: Schloss Ritzebüttel, Schlossgarten 8, D-27472 Cuxhaven, Germany
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Duhnen, Germany
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Cuxhaven
