Wasserkunst Elbe Island Kaltehofe

Villa Kaltehofe was built as a branch of the Hygiene Institute of the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The Elbinsel Kaltehofe Water Art Foundation has been housed there since 2011 and runs a small museum with a restaurant. The outdoor areas are also worth seeing.

The filter system was shut down in 1990 and the 22 water basins with their slide valve houses were left to nature. A few years ago, a small part of the site was opened to the public. However, most of the area is still fenced off and reserved for nature and animals. The slider houses can therefore only be inspected up close during the opening times (Tue-Sun in April-October 10 a.m.-6 p.m., November-March 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Info: wasserkunst-hamburg.de). Otherwise you have a nice view over the area from the opposite dike.

In the former administration building of the waterworks there is a café (delicious, but surprisingly expensive), with an outdoor terrace in summer.

The island of Kaltehofe is virtually car-free, as cars can only drive as far as the Wasserkunst car park. But there are all the more cyclists, inline skaters and walkers.

Nice grounds, nice cafe