Rahlstedt

Rahlstedt is a quarter in the Wandsbek borough of Hamburg. It lies in the north-east of the city, bordering Volksdorf, Farmsen-Berne, Tonndorf and Jenfeld. The Wandse stream and its tributaries run through the area, fed by meltwater from the last ice age. Among the ice-age remains are the nature reserves Stellmoorer Tunneltal and Höltigbaum. The quarter also contains Rahlstedt Cemetery, where the 19th-century poet Detlev von Liliencron is buried. The quarter’s name comes from a Saxon settler called Radolf, first recorded in 1248 as Radoluestede. In 1927 several villages were merged to form the Prussian municipality of Rahlstedt, which joined Hamburg in 1937. Rahlstedt is known for its well-preserved Art Nouveau and Wilhelminian villas, many protected as historic monuments. The pedestrian zones around Schweriner Straße and the train station form a modern centre. A monument and small park in Liliencronstraße honour the local poet. Visitors walk past the 13th-century Old Rahlstedt Church built of fieldstones. They stroll along tree-lined avenues lined with villas from the early 20th century. The public library and former local office stand near the train station. Paths lead into the ice-age valleys of Stellmoorer Tunneltal and Höltigbaum, where meltwater channels and moraines remain. In the cemetery, rows of graves stretch among mature trees, marking the resting place of Detlev von Liliencron.