Discover Rendsburg-Eckernförde

Rendsburg-Eckernförde combines 55 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline with natural and cultural landscapes inland. When choosing your destination, you can consider whether beaches and the sea or hiking, cycling and historic places should be the main focus. Eckernförde has a four-kilometre-long white sandy beach; at the same time, the district is home to four nature parks. This gives the region a variety of themes for a trip, without limiting its character to the coast alone.

Experience the Baltic Sea coast and nature

The beach in Eckernförde is a specific option for anyone who would like to include sand and the Baltic Sea in their trip. Inland, lakes, protected areas and diverse flora and fauna shape the nature parks. The Westensee-Obere Eider Nature Park is characterised by numerous lake complexes in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands. It includes Westensee, which covers around 7 km² and is a popular destination for day trips. Kingfishers live in the bankside areas of the Eider within this nature park. Dosenmoor is also a habitat for distinctive flora and fauna.

A prominent landmark in the Hüttener Berge is the 98-metre-high Aschberg. In good weather, the panoramic view from there extends to the Kiel Canal, Eckernförde Bay and the state capital, Kiel. Nature and landscape conservation areas make up a substantial part of the nature parks. Those interested in landscapes, wildlife and plant life will find a different focus here than at Eckernförde’s sandy beach.

Hiking and cycling in the district

The 180-kilometre Nature Park Hiking Trail passes through the four nature parks in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district. Another option for hikers is the E1 European long-distance path: it runs through the Hüttener Berge and Brekendorf Forest and over the Aschberg. It is marked throughout with a white St Andrew’s cross. The two hiking routes described have different regional scopes: the Nature Park Hiking Trail connects the four nature parks, while the E1 passes through the landscapes mentioned.

The district has a signposted network of cycle paths stretching 1,000 kilometres for bike tours. In addition, around 70 kilometres, or two thirds, of the Kiel Canal run through the district. These figures give active travellers a point of reference when choosing what to focus on: hiking can be combined with nature park landscapes, and cycling with the regional network of paths.

Historic places and regional food culture

Rendsburg is a good starting point for exploring the district from a cultural and historical perspective. Its old town dates back to the 13th century and is still characterised by medieval buildings. The Jewish Museum in Rendsburg is housed in Schleswig-Holstein’s oldest surviving synagogue; the building is both a historic monument and a memorial site. Groß Wittensee is home to a Dutch-style windmill dating from 1874.

The Molfsee Open-Air Museum displays 60 historic buildings dating from the 16th to the 20th century across an area of about 40 hectares. The museum also features a historic fairground with two carousels, a swing boat and a high striker, as well as a large playground. If you would like to focus on historic buildings and rural everyday life, you can take these attractions into account when planning your trip.

Regional food culture is also associated with Eckernförde: the fishing town is known for smoking sprats and other small fish. The famous “Kiel sprats” actually come from Eckernförde. The town thus complements its beach and nature attractions with a maritime culinary tradition.

For further information about places in the area, see these additional location pages: Eiderkanal, Grevensberg, Damp, Eckernförde, Brekendorf, Felm, Hohenwestedt, Sehestedt, Hamdorf, Brodersby, Warder, Rendsburg, Jevenstedt, Groß Wittensee, Grevenkrug, Altenholz, Alt Duvenstedt, Bünsdorf, Schinkel, Holzdorf, Flintbek, Kronshagen, Molfsee, Kosel, Waabs, Osdorf, Beldorf, Rumohr, Melsdorf, Büdelsdorf, Bokel, Hanerau-Hademarschen, Schönwohld, Osterrönfeld, Todenbüttel, Blumenthal, Rieseby, Schönhagen, Bordesholm, Owschlag, Mühbrook, Hamweddel, Breiholz, Tackesdorf, Dörphof, Winnemark, Klein Wittensee, Fleckeby, Güby, Ascheffel, Borgstedt, Hohner Harde, Haby, Altenhof, Westerrönfeld, Schlei-Ostsee, Holzbunge, Holtsee, Seefeld, Thumby, Strande, Windeby, Norby, Schönhorst, Fockbek, Schülp bei Rendsburg, Schacht-Audorf, Karby, Gammelby, Ahlefeld-Bistensee, Schwedeneck, Gettorf, Aukrug, Brügge, Groß Vollstedt, Steenfeld, Nortorf, Neudorf-Bornstein, Haale, Oldenbüttel, Meezen, Schierensee, Achterwehr, Noer, Felde, Rodenbek, Westensee, Barkelsby, Borgdorf-Seedorf, Langwedel, Schülldorf, Krummwisch, Emkendorf, Bendorf, Krogaspe, Dänischenhagen, Nübbel, Rickert, Gokels, Lindau, Dätgen, Hohn, Osterby, Neu Duvenstedt, Loose, Damendorf, Hoffeld, Eisendorf and Lütjenwestedt.