Community Jork - centre of the Alte Land

image author: Community Jork

image author: Community Jork

Jork - historical centre of the Alte Land...
In the course of the 1972 region reform the community Jork was formed from the self-sustained villages Jork, Borstel, Ladekop, Estebruegge, Koenigreich, Hove und Moorende. Today these former villages are the seven parts of the combined community Jork, with the administration office in Jork.
The village used to be a Verdener Zehnhof, founded by the Episcopal Church. The first documented mention is dated 31. May 1221 and encompasses today's villages Jork and Borstel. But it is presumed that both are older. 
Today, the community Jork serves as a recreation area for the surrounding cities Stade, Buxtehude, Hamburg and Bremen. As well as several lovingly restored Altlaender half-timbered houses, most are under the preservation order, there are nice and especially child-friendly newly build housing estates.
In the cultural monuments catalogue from the institut of preservation of ancient monuments in Hannover, Jork is represented with 219 objects or 108 groups of buildings.
Protection, care and preservation of significant cultural buildings is of great importance to the Jork community. 
The preservation work serves as village maintenance as well as village renewal.

The favourable location offers peaceful living with easy access to Buxtehude, Stade and Hamburg. Jork has two primary schools, one intermediate school with orientation classes and one secondary school. A grammar school (Gymnasium)is located in Buxtehude.
The Alte Land itself is divided into three miles and reaches from Hamburg to Stade. Boarders for the miles are the rivers Schwinge, Luehe, Este and Suederelbe. Most of the Lower Saxony part in the Alte Land, lies in the first and second mile and consists of Jork and the Luehe community. The third mile is nearly completely in the suburbs of Hamburg and attracts less interest than the Lower Saxony part.

image author: Community Jork

The mild climate surprises because the rough North Sea is close by. That's how a 'fruit-garden' was able to evolve in which a great variety of fruits are growing extremly well. With its nearly 10 million fruit trees it is the biggest closed fruit orchard of North Europe.
The Alte Land with it's special charm is not only end of April/beginning May when the cherry and apple trees are in full blossom and a kilometre-long soft-pink and white sea of blossoms transform the landscape, worth a visit but as well during harvest time when the trees are bending low laden with juicy fruits.


More information at

http://www.jork.de or

http://www.stade-tourismus.de

image author: Community Jork