Holidays in Schleswig-Holstein: Dannevirke and old Denmark is written by Rikke Bank Egeberg
By train on holiday in Schleswig-Holstein
In October, I experienced two new things: My first train journey out of the country and Schleswig-Holstein as a new destination. I took the train to Kiel; a quite pleasant train ride across Denmark with two quick shifts in Fredericia and Rendsburg south of the border. Surprisingly, the trip took only four hours.
To gain weight train travel is an ideal mode of transport for the family, because here the travel time can be spent playing cards or drawing, all while speeding through landscapes and past traffic jams. You can always rent a car when you arrive.
Here is a good offer on car rental - click on "see offer" to get the final price
Kiel - the city that is reflected in Aarhus
Kiel is the same size as the population Aarhus, and since 80% of the city was destroyed during World War II, there are not many cozy old houses left, which you will otherwise find plenty of in the Schleswig-Holstein region. However, the city is constantly changing and would like to go much further architecturally, and this is clearly felt in the city center.
If you find warships and submarines fascinating, then Kiel is for you. It was here in Kiel that the world's first submarine was built. Today, the factory is a leader in submarines and warships, and all countries around the world order supplies from here. To stay in the maritime area, the lock on the Kiel Canal is also worth a visit.
If you are considering a visit to Kiel, I can recommend Hotel Birke. A nice spa and wellness hotel located a little outside the center. Here you can rent the hotel's Mercedes Cabriolet for a weekend for a penny.
If you take advantage of this, it is obvious to visit Ratzeburg and Mölln, which are described below. The country road down there is a must, so you can really soak up all the beautiful nature for yourself - with or without the convertible.
Find a good offer on Hotel Birke here - click on "see offer" to get the final price
Kiel with the many microbreweries
If you are going to spend the night in Kiel, you should visit the microbrewery Small brewery. Here you sit among the beer tanks in true factory fashion. Lille is a start-up that has only been on the field for two years, but which has been very well received by the local community. At the brewery find a lot pop-ups place in the form of concerts, performances and other events.
Outside are a couple of food stalls where you are welcome to take the food inside and eat. Incidentally, these food stalls are also start-ups. Kiel does a lot to support the innovative environment, as they want the young people to stay in the city after graduating.
Ratzeburg - peace and rowing
I must honestly admit that I could well have stayed here for a few days. Ratzeburg is a small idyllic town situated between two lakes. In fact, in this area there are at least 40 lakes around to go crazy in various water sports activities.
Here in Ratzeburg they row and they are good at it. They even have a fairly reputable rowing academy, where all the rowing clubs - both national and international - come to train.
Stay in Ratzeburg at this fine hotel - get a good offer here
Mölln - the village with the little fool
If you are just on a day trip here, then I recommend combining Ratzeburg and Mölln with each other so you spend half a day each place. On boats Waldhalle outside Mölln and on The Seehof in Ratzeburg you can enjoy a lunch right on the water. Both are hotels, so of course there is also the possibility to stay overnight.
Mölln is a nice little medieval town, not far from Ratzeburg. Personally, I do not think that the city has much to offer, apart from the fact that you can go for a nice walk, drink a cup of coffee and otherwise just enjoy nature. It is clear that Mölln is trying to promote themselves through the city's old court jester and their medieval history - probably also a little too much. But yes, despite this, it is a cozy, nice town that I recommend visiting if you are in the area anyway.
Manor house with own forest and lake
Not far from there is the manor house Gross Zecher; a nice little mix of Swedish and German idyll - yes, it's actually the combination you think of when you experience the place.
If you spend the night here at the manor, you have canoes and rowing boats for free use. The place is ideal for a family, as the manor has apartments where you can cook in the fine facilities. The restaurant is located in the old horse stable and makes really good food from seasonal ingredients.
Travel deals for Romantische Straße in Germany
Fehmarn - surfing and Arne Jacobsen
With the ferry from Rødby you arrive at Puttgarden on Fehmarn (in German called Fehmarn). Where most pilgrims further down through Germany or perhaps make a short stop to empty a border shop, it is now actually very cozy on this German island.
Farm holidays are a cozy family holiday in Denmark, but it is just as cozy in Fehmarn. Here you can combine your farm holiday with a lot of activities such as learning to kite or windsurf or climb the famous silo of Fehmarn.
For those interested in surfing, there are several events throughout the summer within 'SUP', kite and windsurfing. On top of that, Germany's largest 'Festival for Volkswagen Rye Bread' will be held from 18-21. June under the name Midsummer Bulli Festival - so there is also a bit of a surfer vibe about it.
Yes, Fehmarn is a great playground for the whole family, even for the elderly, when the annual wine festival takes place at the end of July.
What does Arne Jacobsen have to do with all this? Yes, he has designed a larger holiday center, where you experience the typical Arne Jacobsen building style in the form of a hotel, swimming pool, cultural center with associated holiday homes and apartments. Today, many of the holiday homes have been sold to private individuals, but there are still a few left that can be rented.
Find delicious holiday homes right here
See Denmark's first border on your holiday in Schleswig-Holstein
On this trip we of course also passed Schleswig. Here Gottorp Castle is fun to visit. The castle actually looks like all sorts of other Danish castles, but the fact that you find it here in Schleswig is interesting, as it reminds you of Denmark's "heyday" before the Schleswig wars in 1848 and 1864.
If you are traveling with children, check out if something is happening for the little ones; I can at least reveal that they have a large dressing room.
In fact, there's a little funny story from this castle where Adam von Holstein lived. Adam was apparently rather poor, like most royals of his time, and he therefore proposed to Elizabeth I of England. She thanked nicely no thank you, but in return gave Adam von Holstein an eternal pension as a rejection.
Travel deals: Go on a castle stay in northern Germany
No holiday in Schleswig-Holstein without Dannevirke
Schleswig is probably best known for the fortification Dannevirke. And it's a fun place to experience.
Here you experience a small, but incredibly well-made museum that demonstrates the historical events, but which also puts a lot of focus on the Danish / German friendship and cultural community that Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark have.
A number of Danes live in Schleswig-Holstein. The region has, among other things, 53 Danish primary and lower secondary schools and in the city of Schleswig you will also find a high school built by AP Møller with around 600 students.
There are a lot of experiences waiting for you and your family just across the border, and the best thing about it is that it is easy to get to, whether by train, ferry or car. All roads lead to Schleswig-Holstein.
Good trip to Northern Germany!
The editors were invited on a press trip in October to help promote the Danish-German friendship. The press trip was arranged by Tourismus-Agentur Schleswig-Holstein GmbH in connection with the 100th anniversary of the reunification of Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein. All positions are, as always, the editors' own.
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