Vacation in Holstein Switzerland Schleswig-Holstein
Wind force 5, a fresh breeze with a slightly salty note blows from the coast through Holstein Switzerland - through farm gardens, over lakes, forests and over old thatched houses. And with the good North German air flowing into our lungs, pure vacation happiness immediately reaches our hearts.
Those who have had enough of wide sandy beaches, cliffs and piers will find variety in the gently undulating region between Kiel and Lübeck, the Nature park Holstein Switzerland. However, you don't have to miss out on water here, as more than 200 small and large lakes and the 55-kilometre-long Schwentine invite you to swim, sail, canoe and stand-up paddle. And there is also plenty to do on land: Hiking, cycling tours, visiting historic castles and estates or simply enjoying a delicious piece of cake in a cozy farm café - here the cake still tastes like grandma's, here the vegetables are still fresh from the field. Highlights of Holstein Switzerland such as these offer genuine North German country life and a vacation feeling as it should be.
Typical Holstein Switzerland
Today, light beech forests and glistening lakes enliven the relic of the last ice age in the Nature park Holstein Switzerland. Here, the history of the earth has laid a young moraine landscape at our feet, in which snow-white castles are lined up next to enchanted apple orchards. The water, the deep blue constant, connects small towns and forests, parks and promenades and invites you to enjoy numerous activities on your vacation in Schleswig-Holstein.
Hiking
Holstein Switzerland is an ideal hiking region with rolling hills, deciduous forests, meadows and lakes. There are 27 marked circular hiking trails, but also many unmarked paths for varied tours. The landscape with 200 lakes and the nature park characterizes the Canadian feeling in the middle of Schleswig-Holstein. Sights such as vineyards, manor houses, castles and more make the region attractive for all tastes. Pilgrimage trails such as the Jakobsweg and Mönchsweg as well as day tours offer recreation and relaxation. Hiking with children, Nordic walking or walks are just as recommended here as multi-day tours, for example on the Holstein Switzerland Trail.
Cycling
Holstein Switzerland is a paradise for cyclists, with numerous cycle paths leading through the unique landscape of the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. Whether it's a short tour or an extensive cycle route, the gently undulating landscape offers attractive exploration opportunities for families, sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. From farming villages and historic towns to forest trails with picnic areas - the diverse routes through the picturesque countryside offer cultural and natural treasures for unforgettable experiences. For tours lasting several days, there are options such as the Holstein Switzerland Cycle Route or the Monks' Trail, which leads all the way to Lower Saxony and passes historical sites such as the world's smallest bishop's cathedral in Bosau.
Paddling
The lake district of Holstein Switzerland in Schleswig-Holstein is a popular destination for canoeists and paddlers. The waters around the Großer Plöner See offer ideal conditions for one-day canoe tours or multi-day water hikes with a touch of Swedish flair. The 55-kilometre-long Schwentine water hiking trail enables exciting discovery tours by canoe along picturesque lakes and the most beautiful natural scenery. Stand-up paddling and canoe tours through towns are also possible here on vacation in Schleswig-Holstein.
Excursion tips worth seeing in Holstein Switzerland
Numerous aristocrats settled in Holstein Switzerland and built small and large residences. One of the most famous is Plön Castle with its white facades and gray roofs. The ducal residence in the heart of the vacation region served as a summer residence for the Danish king, among others, who gave the previously red castle its bright white color.
St. Peter's Church in Bosau is always worth a visit. Here in Bosau, directly on the shores of the Großer Plöner See and therefore in the heart of Holstein Switzerland, you will find the picturesque fieldstone church of St. Petri, the smallest episcopal cathedral in the world. Numerous concerts are held here in summer and the view over Bosau Bay and the Großer Plöner See is simply fascinating. In this fascinating spot in the middle of Holstein Switzerland, the clocks run differently: pause, slow down, enjoy the peace and quiet ...
The Grebiner Mühle, which was built in 1851 by Carl Friedrich Trahn under the name "Wagrien", is located directly on the vineyards of Holstein Switzerland. The four-storey Kellerholländer mill, which was in operation until 1947, consists of a stone substructure in the tower. The roof is covered with thatch and has a copper dome. On the rustic benches outside the mill, you can enjoy a short break with a wonderful view over the landscape of Holstein Switzerland.
If you find yourself longing for a prince or princess while strolling through the gardens of manor houses and the halls of castles in Holstein Switzerland, you should visit the groom's oak in Dodau Forest. The tree hole of the four-hundred-year-old oak is an official postal address for those who are looking for their better half in a romantic way. Letters are delivered daily by the post office, which anyone and everyone can read and reply to. It is said that over a hundred couples have already found happiness thanks to the famous old tree in Schleswig-Holstein.
Gentle hills and the mild Baltic Sea climate offer the best conditions for wineries - even in the north of Germany, in the beautiful landscape of Holstein Switzerland. Wine is pressed on the sun-drenched slopes, which has already won awards and can be tasted in the stylish country inn. Afterwards, it can continue seamlessly: with home-style cooking at the inn with a view of the lake, a visit to the farm store with fresh organic products and a delicious piece of cake in the farm café. You can literally let Holstein Switzerland melt in your mouth.
Water shaped Holstein Switzerland 10,000 years ago, more precisely the meltwater and moving glaciers of the Vistula Ice Age. They piled up hills, smoothed them out again and formed small and large basins, wide and narrow valleys. The gift of this slow and at the same time powerful landscape gardener is a lake district with over 200 bodies of water, ranging from a small floodplain to the Great Plön Lake. The waters are surrounded by green belts: Bays full of reeds, shaded bathing spots and meadows that reach right down to the water's edge. Curving hills rise up from the shore, carrying forests, fields or even vineyards. Fittingly, Holstein Switzerland is home to the highest point in Schleswig-Holstein, the Bungsberg at 168 meters above sea level. This is also the source of the Schwentine, the green-blue lifeline of the lake district. The 68-kilometre-long river connects 17 lakes with each other, allowing for an extensive network of waterways. Although the wind picks up on the larger lakes, it is much more moderate than the stiff breeze on the coasts. The warmer climate therefore invites you to enjoy a relaxing vacation on the numerous jetties and bathing spots that the endless shoreline landscape of Holstein Switzerland has to offer.
