Duchy of Lauenburg: Experience lakes, forests and culture
Accommodation in Duchy of Lauenburg
Forests, lakes and river landscapes define the Duchy of Lauenburg: 26 percent of the district is forest, and there are also 48 lakes. The Elbe forms the southern boundary. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you will find plenty of options here—from nature experiences in the heart of the duchy to the history of shipping on the Elbe.
Lauenburgs Unterstadt, Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg in Schleswig-Holstein
Photo: Pauli-Pirat via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake district and nature park
The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies in the heart of the duchy. The area is about 35 by 17 kilometres in size and provides a habitat for kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes, among other wildlife. Schaalsee is the deepest clear-water lake in northern Germany; its deepest point lies 72 metres below the water’s surface. The wooded Werder peninsulas of Seedorf and Groß Zecher on the western shore are also among the region’s distinctive landscapes.
Since 1960, the nature park has been designated a protected area for visitors to explore. Hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and rest areas invite you to get to know the surroundings in different ways. In the nature park, you can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in the forest lakes. Families who would like to explore nature with a guide can join expert-led excursions covering the district’s wildlife, plants and cultural history. The Uhlenkolk Environmental Centre in Mölln offers nature education and activities for kindergartens, school classes, families and adults.
Explore on foot, by bike or on the water
Four signposted cycling routes run through the nature park. The long-distance cycle route Alte Salzstraße also passes through the duchy, running from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal. If you prefer exploring on foot, you can follow the European long-distance trails E1, E6 and E9. They run from north to south through the duchy, via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg.
The water offers a range of opportunities, too. The Elbe, the more than 100-year-old Elbe-Lübeck Canal and over 40 lakes provide space for sport and recreation in, on and beside the water. You can sail on Ratzeburg Lake. A canoe trip can take you from Schaalsee across the Lauenburg lakes and along the Wakenitz to Lübeck. Waterbirds can be spotted from the observation tower at Mechower See; with a little luck, you may also see a white-tailed eagle.
Culture and local specialities
In Ratzeburg, the Duchy of Lauenburg District Museum tells the story of the Lauenburg dukes and the border between East and West Germany. In Lauenburg/Elbe, the Elbe Shipping Museum explores the history of shipping. Its three-storey exhibition, “Mensch-Modell-Maschine” (“People-Model-Machine”), is interactive; visitors can take part at the models and hands-on stations. A regular cultural event, the four-week Kultursommer am Kanal, takes place every summer.
The duchy’s country and farm cafés offer a locally flavoured place to take a break and are known for homemade cakes made with regional produce. In Labenz, Labenzer Stolz coffee roastery roasts coffee using a traditional, long-duration drum-roasting process that preserves the aroma. It is located in a lovingly restored farmhouse dating from 1890 and sells selected chocolates, marzipan, fine foods and wines alongside coffee.
Choose the focus that suits your stay
When looking for a holiday apartment, it may help to start by focusing on the experiences you want to shape your stay: nature and hiking trails, cycling tours, culture or activities on the water. The towns of Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg also feature as stops on the long-distance hiking trails; Ratzeburg is also associated with sailing on the lake, and Lauenburg with the shipping museum. For train travel, Büchen junction connects the district to the long-distance rail network via the Hamburg–Schwerin–Berlin and Lübeck–Lüneburg routes.
Explore towns and areas
More towns and areas in the Duchy of Lauenburg: Nusse, Elmenhorst, Schönberg, Mölln, Mustin, Grambek, Dassendorf, Güster, Hollenbek, Rondeshagen, Ratzeburg, Wentorf Bei Hamburg, Geesthacht, Fredeburg, Aumühle, Lankau, Behlendorf, Seedorf, Mechow, Groß Disnack, Lehmrade, Besenthal, Krummesse, Groß Grönau, Krukow, Kittlitz, Gudow, Lauenburg/Elbe, Klempau, Siebenbäumen, Ziehten, Alt Mölln, Roseburg, Breitenfelde, Römnitz, Berkenthin, Groß Sarau, Lauenburgische Seen, Schwarzenbek-Land, Salem, Wohltorf, Müssen, Möhnsen, Linau, Kuddewörde, Krüzen, Sterley, Schulendorf, Brunstorf, Hohenhorn, Tramm.
Go to the main travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.
