Germany Rühstädt

Rühstädt lies in a bend of the River Elbe within the Elbe River Landscape – Brandenburg Biosphere Reserve. It’s a sort of land of milk and honey for storks, which is why Rühstädt has been designated a European Stork Village. Up to 44 pairs of storks breed on the village’s rooftops every year. And in mid-June, young birds can be seen in many of the nests. The roof turrets and other platforms for the nests are erected on stables, barns and the like, so that the nests – which can weigh up to 2 tonnes – do not endanger any residential buildings. The storks have built just one nest on a residential house.
Rühstädt is not only attractive because of the storks. Many lovingly maintained old buildings, with picturesque flower beds and lush rose bushes up to seven metres high, invite you to take a stroll through the village. Added to this are the historic church, a castle (now a hotel) and the former water tower, which is home to one of the oldest stork nests.

There is a nice official motorhome site at the southern end of the village.