On a tour of discovery: Surprises at the 10th meridian in Hamburg!

On a tour of discovery: Surprises at the 10th meridian in Hamburg!

Today, July 1, 2025, we travel along the 10th degree of longitude east, which runs through Hamburg. The Rönneburg district, located in the Harburg district, is the starting point for an exciting tour organized by Hinz&Kunzt. The tour leads from Rönneburg to Langenhorn, very relaxed by bike in order to follow the longitude as precisely as possible. The plan is to discover some surprises along the way and find out how well the people of Hamburg know about this geographical line. The tour begins at Fuchsberg, which at 60 meters is not only the highest point in Rönneburg, but also offers a great view of the surrounding area. This is where the connection to nature becomes very concrete: two city cleaning employees are taking a break when they happen to park on the 10th meridian east. “That’s probably fate,” the driver smiles as he talks about the special geographical location of his city.

Rönneburg itself has a lot to offer. The district, which borders the municipality of Seevetal in Lower Saxony to the south and east, is a small piece of Hamburg that is often overshadowed by the larger parts of the city. But the charm of Rönneburg should not be underestimated. Runneborge Castle was originally mentioned in a document in 1233 and its name is derived from the small stream Rönne, which means “trickle”. The district has experienced a lot over the centuries, including becoming part of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg in 1937 through the Greater Hamburg Act.

Statistics and Demographics

A look at Rönneburg's demographic data opens a small treasure trove of information. With a proportion of 19.5% under 18-year-olds, the district is above the Hamburg average of 16.8%. At 18.3%, the senior citizen rate is also slightly higher than the average of 17.8%. The proportion of foreigners is also exciting, which is 22.6% in Rönneburg, while it is 20.7% in the city as a whole. Interestingly, the unemployment rate here is 6.2%, exactly the same as the Hamburg average. However, an average annual income of 45,948 euros is below the overall Hamburg average of 48,035 euros (as of 2020).

Political landscape and local institutions

Politically speaking, Rönneburg belongs to the Harburg constituency and cast a clear vote for the SPD in the 2020 state election, which received 40.2% of the vote. The Greens follow with 17.9%, while the CDU with 12.9% and the AfD with 10.4% also play a role. The establishment of a volunteer fire department, a daycare center and a primary school is a sign of commitment to the community.

In order to improve the connection to Rönneburg, the main thoroughfare, Vogteistraße, was expanded. The bus lines that run here include line 241, which serves the northeast of Rönneburg, as well as some historic bus connections that are now history. From 1930 to 1971, Rönneburg was also the terminus of a tram line that once well connected the area with the city.

There's a lot going on in Rönneburg. Whether cycling along the 10th meridian or visiting the local establishments, it's worth paying special attention to this part of the city. The mix of history, tranquil life and the immediate proximity to Hamburg makes Rönneburg a hidden gem in the south of the Hanseatic city.