
Hedeper is a municipality in the foothills of the
Harz
The Harz () is a highland area in northern Germany. It has the highest elevations for that region, and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The name ''Harz'' derives from the Middle High German w ...
in east
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...
. It has about 600 inhabitants, and is in the administrative district of
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel (; nds, Wulfenbüddel) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, the administrative capital of Wolfenbüttel District. It is best known as the location of the internationally renowned Herzog August Library and for having the largest ...
.
Geography
Wolfenbüttel lies about 15 km to the north-west of Hedeper. Hedeper is the most southernly municipality in the higher municipality "Asse". It consists of the towns of Wetzleben (146 inhabitants) and Hedeper (401 inhabitants).
History
Both municipalities of Wetzleben and Hedeper were united in one common municipality in 1974. Hedeper was mentioned in a written document for the first time in 1188 and Wetzleben already in 994.
Culture and sights
As a landmark of Hedeper, an old
windmill
A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications, in so ...
is situated to the west of the village ("Erdholländer Windmühle"). It was built in 1900 and was in use until 1956. From this spot one could once see 20 windmills, none of which remain today. Instead, the new windwheels of the local windmill power plant surround Hedeper.
Hedeper has come to life again after the depression in the eighties, when several local farms had to shut down. It now boasts a small, but active sportsclub, a shooting club, a Protestant congregation, and an auxiliary fire brigade. Three local farmers have joined to build a
biogas plant serving the local community.
The village church was restored to its original state in 2002.
Located in the southeast lies the "block mountain" (Klotzeberg), the first and smallest
natural reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
of the administrative district.
Economy and infrastructure
The inhabitants work mostly in Wolfenbüttel,
Braunschweig
Braunschweig () or Brunswick ( , from Low German ''Brunswiek'' , Braunschweig dialect: ''Bronswiek'') is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, north of the Harz Mountains at the farthest navigable point of the river Oker, which connects it to the ...
,
Salzgitter
Salzgitter (; Eastphalian: ''Soltgitter'') is an independent city in southeast Lower Saxony, Germany, located between Hildesheim and Braunschweig. Together with Wolfsburg and Braunschweig, Salzgitter is one of the seven ''Oberzentren'' of Lower ...
or
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg (; Eastphalian: ''Wulfsborg'') is the fifth largest city in the German state of Lower Saxony, located on the river Aller. It lies about east of Hanover and west of Berlin.
Wolfsburg is famous as the location of Volkswagen AG's ...
.
In earlier times, many inhabitants earned their living as drivers during the hunts that took place in fall.
References
External links
Velvet municipality aces
{{Authority control
Wolfenbüttel (district)