Rissen is a small picturesque village to the west of Hamburg, with a station direct to the city. The one way through street is lined with cafes, bakeries, fruiterers, shoe shops etc, several in thatched roofed houses and with bicycle stands dotted between them. It is a wonderful place to live as it combines country and city living, is flat enough to bicycle everywhere and has everything you need within its boundaries. I remember my time there with fondness.
The village of Rissen is surrounded by farmland and nature reserves which are criss-crossed by lanes (Feldwege) used by farmers to get between their fields and which make wonderful bicycle paths.
The Elbe River to the south of Rissen is within a bicycle ride, along the flat then down the hill. The banks of the Elbe are a favourite place for walking, picnics, making celebration bonfires and watching the huge ships traveling back and forth to the Hamburg docks. Further along the Elbe to the East are dikes where sheep graze
