The Historic Counts' Town on the Weser
Hoya on the Weser – The Counts' Town on the River Weser
The town of Hoya on the River Weser lies along the picturesque Middle Weser, where the river meanders gracefully through the surrounding countryside. Hoya is the administrative centre of the County of Hoya Joint Municipality (Samtgemeinde Grafschaft Hoya), which comprises ten member communities.
Hoya for Fairy Tale and Legend Enthusiasts
Often described as a town of legends, Hoya's more than 800 years of history can be experienced on a variety of themed guided tours. Join Shepherd Heinrich and his companions on an enchanting moonlight walk through the historic old town, or discover the secrets of the Counts' Castle during a fascinating castle tour. Visitors will also encounter the famous dwarfs said to have celebrated within the castle—both as part of the storytelling and as sculptures along Lange Straße.
Every year, on the third weekend of September, Hoya travels back in time during the historic St Catherine's Market. Jugglers, musicians, merchants, craftsmen, and noble ladies and gentlemen from across the former County of Hoya gather around the historic Counts' Church and the Bürgerpark, recreating the atmosphere of the medieval county with colourful market stalls, traditional crafts, and entertainment.
On the second weekend of Advent, the old town is transformed once again during the charming Dwarfs' Christmas Market.
The famous legend The Count of Hoya and the Dwarfs was included by the Brothers Grimm in their collection German Legends. Their version is based on a much older source dating from the late sixteenth century.
Many more local legends originate from the surrounding municipalities, including tales of Hinzelmann, the mischievous kobold of Eystrup; the building of Hoyerhagen Church; the ghost of the Hoyerhagen parsonage; the Golden Spinning Wheel of Kolkhof near Hilgermissen; the founding of Bücken Collegiate Church; and the legend of the Golden Barrel hidden in the wilderness near Bücken.
Hoya for Holidaymakers and Day Visitors
A network of regional cycling routes passes through the County of Hoya and follows the River Weser, including the Grafen-Ring (Counts' Ring), the Warpe Sculpture Trail, the AchterTour, and ALLERhand am WESERstrand. Many of these routes are inspired by local myths, legends, and historical stories.
The Grafen-Ring, for example, leads to the setting of the famous dwarf legend: the former moated castle of the Counts of Hoya on the eastern bank of the Weser. The east and west wings of the castle still stand on medieval foundations, while the central building was added during the nineteenth century.
Hoya's historic town centre is characterised by its elegant Town Hall, the von Behr Manor Estate, and the impressive 900-year-old Counts' Church, now known as St Martin's Cultural Church, which hosts weddings, concerts, and cultural events throughout the year.
Just a five-minute walk from the town centre, the Weserblick motorhome site offers a peaceful riverside location, making it an ideal base for exploring the region.
Nearby, the magnificent twin-towered Bücken Collegiate Church, visible from afar and surrounded by legend, traces its origins to Archbishop Rimbert of Bremen (865–888). Constructed in four stages between the 11th and 14th centuries and extensively restored in the 19th century, it houses an exceptional collection of medieval treasures, including a late Gothic carved altar, an ornate sacrament house, a 13th-century stone pulpit, a triumphal cross, medieval choir stalls, and stained-glass windows dating from before 1250.
Between fields, forests, and meadows in the municipality of Hoyerhagen lies the officially calculated geographical centre of the state of Lower Saxony. A specially designed stone monument marks the exact location, and visitors who make the journey can even receive a commemorative certificate from the Tourist Information Office in Hoya.
