Numerous prehistoric settlements once thrived here. This is Altgarbsen, a part of Garbsen in Lower Saxony. Stone Age tools were found here. Many urns from the Harpstedt-Nienburg group were also found. These discoveries resulted from sand mining in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Altgarbsen is Garbsen’s second most populous district. Around 11000 people live here. It lies between the A2 motorway and the Mittellandkanal. Altgarbsen sits about 50 meters above sea level. Auf der Horst borders it to the north. Schloß Ricklingen is to the west. Seelze lies to the south. Havelse is to the east of Altgarbsen.
Let’s talk about Altgarbsen’s history. The church in Garbsen was first mentioned in 1250. It was given to Marienwerder Monastery. This monastery was founded in 1196.
The oldest buildings in Altgarbsen date back to the Thirty Years’ War. Around 1730, Altgarbsen had 33 farms. About 150 people lived here then. Friedrich August Ludwig Hellner built today’s village church in 1845. The industrial development started in Garbsen in the late 19th century. The first brick factory was built in 1886. Since then, Altgarbsen has changed a lot.
The Altgarbsen municipal coat of arms was designed by Gustav Völker. He was an expert in heraldry. He created many coats of arms in the Hanover region. The state ministry gave Altgarbsen the right to use the coat of arms on May 19 1955.
The coat of arms shows a golden urn on a green hill. This urn represents the many urn finds in the area. The sand was used for the lime sandstone industry. This industry helped Altgarbsen grow economically. The coat of arms also features a chimney. To the left of the chimney is an ear of grain. It represents the former agriculture. To the right is a fir tree. It stands for the once large forests.
The Altgarbsen church sits on the highest point of the old town center. It was dedicated in 1845. It belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran parish of Alt-Garbsen. The Catholic Church of St. Johannes Evangelist was built in 1967/68. It was deconsecrated and demolished in 2007. A senior citizens’ residence was built on the property.
The village center surrounds the small brick village church. Some farms are still active. The center extends along Calenberger Straße. Kastanienplatz is 200 meters away. It is the center of the district. It is located on Hannoversche Straße. Shops are located around Kastanienplatz. These include food stores. The traditional inn “Zur Eiche” is here too. The “Umschau” publishing house is also here. This is the Garbsen newspaper. The old chestnut trees were cut down in 2003 for safety. New chestnut trees were planted. The square was repaved and renovated. A weekly market now takes place there regularly.
The gaps in the building fabric were closed in the 1950s. Single and multi-family houses were built. Larger building areas were developed between the 1950s and 1970s. These are located on Kochslandweg and Pottberg. Multi-family houses are also on Ziegelstraße. High-rise buildings are on Maschweg and Am Kreuzstein.
Altgarbsen has the largest primary school in Garbsen. It is called “Grundschule Osterberg”. About 500 students attend it. Many businesses are located along the A2 motorway. The “Centrum Kohake Garbsen” shopping center stands out. It has a large hardware store, medical center, service providers and retail stores.
The Leine floodplain borders Altgarbsen to the south and southwest. It is still largely natural. The Mittellandkanal is also nearby. A shipping company offers excursions on the Mittellandkanal since 2005. The pier is located on the street “Am Kanal”. Two bus lines serve Altgarbsen. A night bus line is also available. They connect Altgarbsen with neighboring districts and communities.