Leuchtturm Dicke Berta

The fat Berta is a beacon in Cuxhaven-Altenbruch. The standing on the Elbe estuary tower was under fire from 1897 to 1983 in operation.

The "Dicke Berta" is a 13 meter high lighthouse in Cuxhaven's Altenbruch district. The tower was built in 1897 together with two other lighthouses, the "Slim Anna" and another in Neufeld. In 1983, the fat Berta was taken out of service and replaced by a new, modern lighthouse with automatic operation. As the fat lady was not lacking in charm, she was extensively restored by the members of the Förderverein Dicke Berta e.V. and is now a listed building. Further information can be found at: dickeberta.de

If you ride the Elbe cycle path from Cuxhaven to Otterndorf, you will pass fat Berta. There is also a restaurant with a view of the Elbe.

Closed except Tuesday and Saturday!

Of course, a short stop is worthwhile. From here you have the first time after (or the last time before the Kugelbake) an undisturbed view of the Elbe estuary.
The pub right next to invites you to a little refreshment.

Fat Berta is a beacon in Cuxhaven-Altenbruch. The listed lighthouse at the mouth of the Elbe was in operation as a front light from 1897 to 1983; the associated upper fire Slim Anna no longer exists.
In 1532, the twin towers of the St. Nicolai Church in Altenbruch were noted on nautical charts as the first sea mark or landmark in this area.
Because of the changing shallows, currents and changes in direction, the mouth of the Elbe near Altenbruch was considered a difficult fairway, and warnings were given against sailing in at night until about 1826. Since the existing lighthouses on Neuwerk, the Hamburg lighthouse in Cuxhaven and the beacons and blues at the end of the 19th century no longer met the requirements of seafaring, three new lighthouses were built in 1897, the "Slim Anna" in Osterende Groden as the upper light with the Front firing in Neufeld and Altenbruch. The lighthouse erected at the Altenbruch harbor entrance was put into operation on November 25th.
In 1914 there were changes in the fairway, which meant that the lighthouse in Altenbruch was no longer in the right place. It had to be moved a few meters in 1915–18. It is not known how this was done, only that the tower got its current appearance during this work.
On May 2, 1919, the tower was put back into service and from that point on it was popularly known as "Big Berta".

From 1968 the lighthouses on the Lower Elbe were modernized or newly built in order to get by with new technology and automatic operation without a lighthouse keeper.
In 1983 the beacon of the tower, which was last used as a cross marker light, was extinguished.
With the decommissioning, this beacon became a foreign object in the dike, which meant that the steel tower was to be scrapped. The resistance of the Altenbruchers and the possibility of ensuring the safety of the dyke with a ring of stones around the tower base meant that this plan was abandoned. On August 18, 1983, the Lower Saxony administration office in Lüneburg placed the tower under monument protection. On November 8, 1983, the Förderverein Dicke Berta e. V., whose members restored the 13 m high black and white lighthouse. Since 2002, the tower can be visited from Easter to September. The registry office in Cuxhaven regularly holds weddings there.
In 1998-99 the dike was raised. Up to this point, the "Big Berta" stood on the crest of the dyke. Since the new dykes on the Elbe have a sand core, the seaward flank of the dyke was shifted by a few metres, the middle was filled with fine sand from the Elbe and provided with a bran coat. Today the tower stands on the inland flank and about three meters below the crest of the dyke.

Visiting the Fat Berta possible on Tuesdays and Saturdays!

The Big Berte is not as big as you would expect from a lighthouse. An information board provides information about the use of the lighthouse and its history. From here you have a wonderful view up and down the Elbe.

Closed except Tuesday and Saturday!

Closed the rest of the week except Tuesday and Saturday!

The "Big Berta" is not a dear aunt or a ship, but a 13m high, listed lighthouse museum just around the corner in Cuxhaven.

Great lighthouse. Is worth a visit!
Even got married here ;-)

Beautiful lighthouse to look at!

The "Big Berta" is not a dear aunt or a ship, but a 13m high, listed lighthouse museum just around the corner in Cuxhaven-Altenbruch.
Great excursion destination right on the bike path.

Great lighthouse, perfect for a little break.

In any case, use the bike path down by the sea from Dicken Berta in the direction of Otterndorf or the other way around, there are some obstacles through sheep and gates, but it's worth it!

A beautiful old Leutturm where you can even get married.
There is a restaurant nearby that invites you to stop off and great dykes to walk on.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicke_Berta_(Lighthouse)
Worth a trip? A must" ;-)

An idyllic place with a wonderful view of the Elbe estuary.

You can also get married here - this may result in traffic jams on the bike path

🚀

Seafarers have always used landmarks and structures near the coast for orientation. As early as 1532 [De Kaert Vander Zee van Jan Seuerszoon (1532)/het oudste printed nederlandsche Leeskaartbork utgegeven by Johannes Knudsen.-Kobenhavn: Gads Forlag 1914.- p. 5] the Altenbruch church with its two towers as a navigation mark noted on a card. These signs were particularly important for the Lower Elbe area, as this was always a difficult fairway with its currents, shoals and changes in direction, so that in 1826 urgent warnings were still given against sailing into the Elbe at night.

The Dicke Berta is an old lighthouse near Cuxhaven. He was in operation from 1897-1983. He was supposed to be scrapped, which was prevented, and marriages are being conducted today by the registry office.