Schleswig-Flensburg: World Heritage, the Schlei and nature
Accommodation in Schleswig-Flensburg
Schleswig-Flensburg combines the coastal scenery of the Flensburg Fjord with the Schlei, river landscapes and a rich history. The district includes both unspoiled steep coasts and beaches along the fjord, as well as the Eider-Treene-Sorge river landscape. If you are weighing up coast, nature and cultural history for your trip, these different themes are a good guide to what may interest you.
Naturschutzgebiet Halbinsel Holnis in Schleswig-Holstein im Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg B
Photo: Matthias Böhm via Source, CC BY-SA 3.0
Coastal and natural landscapes
The Holnis peninsula is the northernmost point of Schleswig-Holstein’s young moraine landscape. More than 130 bird species can be observed there, including around 65 breeding species. If you are particularly interested in birdwatching, this offers a specific focus on nature.
Another major natural area is Geltinger Birk. With a total area of 773 hectares, it is the largest nature reserve in Schleswig-Flensburg district. Well-maintained paths provide access to the area, and guided walks share information about its flora and fauna. You can combine your interest in nature here with a walk or a guided tour.
Gentle hills, forests, hedgerow landscapes, and rapeseed and grain fields shape the scenery of Schlei Nature Park. There are also sandy beaches and swimming coves. The Schlei’s brackish-water areas provide a habitat for numerous endangered bird species. The nature park thus brings together a variety of natural settings: farmland, woodland, shores and protected habitats.
Experience history and culture
Haithabu and the Danewerk have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since June 2018. More than 25 kilometres of the Danewerk rampart still remain today. This makes the two sites a special point of interest for anyone interested in the region’s historical heritage. In Idstedt, the historic memorial site and its museum provide information about German-Danish history surrounding the 1848 uprising and the Battle of Idstedt.
Kappeln also has a well-known connection to television history: from 1986 to 2012, the town served as a filming location for the series “Der Landarzt” under the name “Deekelsen.” Arnis and the Schlei were also filming locations for a German adaptation of “Five Friends.” These screen connections add a perspective on how the area has been portrayed in television and film productions to its historical themes.
Active days on the Schlei
Today, Arnis is a destination for watersports enthusiasts. The 25-kilometre SchleiUferTörn circular cycling route, which loops around the central part of the Schlei, starts there. The stated route length can help you factor the tour into your day’s plans; on its own, it says nothing about the duration or difficulty. Guided nature tours are also offered in Schlei Nature Park. The Viking-Frisian Way, the Ochsenweg and 15 signposted themed cycling routes lead through the landscape.
For an outing with rides and play activities, Tolk-Schau is another option. This family amusement park offers, among other things, playgrounds, miniature railways, fairy-tale cabins and more than 100 life-size dinosaurs. This clearly sets the destination apart from the nature and history attractions: here, rides and themed attractions take centre stage.
Local pages for further orientation
More local pages: Gelting Bay, Gelting, Mittelangeln, SĂĽderbrarup, Schleswig, Oeversee, Harrislee, Kappeln, Schafflund, Eggebek, Handewitt, HĂĽrup, Langballig, GlĂĽcksburg, Husby, Haddeby, Kropp-Stapelholm, Quern, SĂĽdangeln, Arensharde, Kappeln-Land and Maasholm.
