Rissen is a small picturesque village to the west of Hamburg, with a station direct to the city. The one way street through town is lined with cafes, bakeries, fruiterers, shoe shops etc with several thatched roofed buildings and 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 called ‘Feldwege’, each of which has a number. They are used by farmers to get between their fields and 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 west in the direction of the sea are dikes where sheep graze.
