Hof Bartels in Autumn: Pumpkin Magic, a Corn Maze & Our Experience
On this September day we simply craved autumn: pumpkins, warm colours and finally some really lovely autumn photos again. On top of that, we had been itching to try a corn maze for ages. For Gina it was definitely her first one, Oli couldn’t quite remember whether he had ever been in one before. So our first stop that day took us to the “Kürbis-Zauber” (pumpkin magic) at Hof Bartels in Rade.
We were there on the very opening day of the Kürbis-Zauber, and the farm was accordingly busy. There is plenty to discover on the grounds, especially for families, including a large playground and little games like tic tac toe. But before we wandered off between pumpkins and the corn field, we were hungry after the long drive.
€6 for pumpkin soup: of all things, that’s what stuck with us
The selection of savoury dishes was manageable during our visit. In the farm shop area we first found mainly cakes, but outside we then spotted several visitors with chips. Eventually we tracked down two stands: one with chips and bratwurst, and another one with pumpkin soup and pumpkin waffles. Since a pretty long queue had formed in front of the chips and bratwurst, while hardly anyone was waiting at the pumpkin stand, we spontaneously went for a soup and a waffle.
The pumpkin soup in particular turned into a small surprise. Gina had always been convinced that she simply doesn’t like pumpkin. This soup, however, was very creamy and finely blended, and to us it tasted noticeably milder than expected. We could barely pick out a typical pumpkin note at all, it rather reminded us a bit of a creamy potato soup. At €6 per portion we found it quite pricey, but taste-wise it was really good.
We both enjoyed the pumpkin waffle as well, and for us it was a lovely addition to the soup.
The Kürbis-Zauber: exactly the autumn mood we were looking for
After eating, we made our way through the actual pumpkin area. Pumpkins were standing and lying everywhere, in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes. The big pumpkin pyramid naturally caught our eye straight away, otherwise the pumpkins were spread out across the grounds or set up for sale.
For our autumn photos this was exactly the backdrop we had hoped for. We took photos on the swing, among the pumpkins, with pumpkins, and at some point even in the middle of a heart made of pumpkins. Afterwards we strolled through the sales area and kept discovering new motives. Many of the pictures from that day are now among our favourite autumn photos.
Our first corn maze: over 3 kilometres and six quiz stations
Next up was the corn maze. Before setting off, we grabbed an ice cream and something to drink, paid £4.50 admission per person and each got a card for the rally.
We had not expected the maze to be over three kilometres long. What we found even nicer, though, was that it wasn’t just about somehow finding your way back out of the corn field. A total of six stations had to be found. At each one, a quiz question with three possible answers was waiting, and the answer we believed to be right was stamped onto the card.
That is exactly what made the maze so much more interesting for us. Of course we took a wrong turn every now and then, but overall we got along surprisingly well. Small signs along the way helped out.
The maze is divided into 6 sections. The signs are always positioned at the transitions, so it’s clear whether the respective section has already been completed or not. In the end, we actually found all six stations in the correct order and were back outside after roughly an hour. We particularly liked the mix of maze, treasure hunt and quiz, because you always had a small goal along the way instead of just walking several kilometres between the corn plants.
Hof Bartels also offers farmer’s golf. We didn’t try that on this day, though.
A velvet pumpkin for our caravan
Before heading off to our next stop, we dropped by the farm shop once more and picked up a few little things. What we liked most was a dark green velvet pumpkin, which in the end was allowed to come home with us too.
It will get a spot in our caravan and, colour-wise, fits pretty much exactly into the direction in which we want to change it bit by bit. So, besides lots of photos, a little piece of autumn decoration from our visit stayed with us.
Pumpkins, a corn maze and a great start to our autumn day
All in all, we spent around two and a half hours at Hof Bartels. The corn maze in particular made our visit something special. Add to that the pumpkin area with exactly the autumn backdrop we had been looking for that day, and a pumpkin soup that Gina really enjoyed despite her previous pumpkin scepticism.
For us, Hof Bartels was a lovely start to our autumn day in the Lüneburg Heath. After the lively beginning at Hof Bartels, the rest of the day took us on to noticeably more natural places.
Visitor information
Hof Bartels is open all year round. The Kürbis-Zauber and the corn maze at Hof Bartels in Rade are seasonal offers. If you are planning your visit specifically for them, it’s best to check the current dates and opening hours beforehand.
- Card payment
- We were able to pay by card in the shop, for the food, and for the corn maze admission.
- Website
- Hof Bartels
- Address
- Zur Heidekoppel 1, 21629 Neu Wulmstorf-Wennerstorf (DE)
What we brought along:
On the road we charge smartphones, cameras and a tablet all at once. This power bank with 26,800 mAh, USB-C and USB-A powers both phones at the same time - after more than four years of daily use, it's our clear recommendation.
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Vivid is the modern bank we use in everyday life and when travelling. We have several free accounts for budgeting, which helps us immensely to keep track of things at home and on the road.
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