The Duchy of Lauenburg district is 26 percent forest and includes 48 lakes. The district is home to the Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest in Schleswig-Holstein; the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. The Elbe forms the duchy’s southern boundary. In this compact area, forests, water and places with histories of their own come together.
Discover forests and lakes
The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park covers an area of about 35 by 17 kilometres. Among other species, it provides a habitat for kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes. Schaalsee is the deepest clear-water lake in northern Germany; its deepest point lies 72 metres below the surface. The wooded Werder peninsulas of Seedorf and GroĂź Zecher lie on its western shore. These varied landscape features make the nature park a destination for anyone who prefers spending time outdoors and is looking for more than just a single viewpoint.
The nature park has hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and places to rest. It has been established as a protected area for visitors to explore since 1960. From the observation tower at Mechower See, you can watch waterbirds; with a little luck, you may also spot a white-tailed eagle. Of course, whether you see one depends on the wildlife in the area. The trails and viewpoints described offer different ways to spend your time: you can explore on foot, linger at a viewpoint or learn about the landscape and its wildlife.
On foot, by bike or on the water
In the nature park, you can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in the refreshing forest lakes. Four cycling routes are signposted. One route links farm cafés in Mustin, Kittlitz, Dargow and Salem, where you can stop for a slice of cake. As individual businesses may change, check in advance whether your planned stop is available. For longer journeys, the European long-distance hiking trails E1, E6 and E9 cross the duchy from north to south, passing through Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. The Old Salt Route long-distance cycle route runs through the duchy alongside the Elbe–Lübeck Canal, from Lauenburg to Lübeck.
A canoe trip can also provide a longer connection: it can take you from Schaalsee via the Lauenburg lakes and the Wakenitz to Lübeck. Local navigation rules may vary, so take them into account when planning your specific trip. You can sail on Ratzeburger See. These different ways of getting around complement one another—from hiking and cycling to activities on the water—without assuming a particular route for every activity.
Maritime history and culture
In Lauenburg/Elbe, the Elbe Shipping Museum features the interactive, three-storey exhibition “Human–Model–Machine” about shipping. You can get hands-on with the models and experiment stations. The Duchy of Lauenburg District Museum in Ratzeburg focuses on a different aspect of history: its exhibits cover the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the inner German border. Both museums offer a tangible starting point for anyone interested in the history of the area—one focusing on shipping, the other on political and regional history.
The cultural calendar includes Kultursommer am Kanal, a four-week cultural festival held along the canal every summer. Check the programme for the year of your visit separately. In Mölln, the Uhlenkolk Environmental Centre offers an educational and nature experience programme for kindergartens, school classes, families and adults. If you plan a visit, check the specific arrangements in advance.
Places to eat and how to get here
Country and farm cafés in the Duchy of Lauenburg are known for their homemade cakes made with regional products. The Labenzer Stolz coffee roastery offers another taste of the region: it is housed in a lovingly restored farmhouse dating from 1890 and roasts coffee using a traditional, gentle, long-duration drum-roasting process that preserves the aroma. In addition to coffee, it sells selected chocolates, marzipan, delicatessen products and wines. The roastery thus combines a particular craft with a wider selection of regional treats.
If you arrive by train, Büchen railway junction is a useful point of reference: it connects the Duchy of Lauenburg district to the long-distance rail network via the Hamburg–Schwerin–Berlin and Lübeck–Lüneburg lines. Check current timetables separately. When looking for a hotel, start with your interests: consider whether nature, cycling routes, water or cultural history is the main focus of your trip, and plan your discoveries accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Groß Disnack, Rondeshagen, Ratzeburg, Wentorf Bei Hamburg, Geesthacht, Fredeburg, Aumühle, Lankau, Nusse, Elmenhorst, Schönberg, Mölln, Mustin, Lauenburg/Elbe, Klempau, Krummesse, Groß Grönau, Krukow, Kittlitz, Gudow, Breitenfelde, Römnitz, Berkenthin, Groß Sarau, Lauenburg Lakes, Schwarzenbek-Land, Salem, Wohltorf, Müssen, Möhnsen, Linau, Kuddewörde, Krüzen, Sterley, Schulendorf, Brunstorf, Hohenhorn, Tramm, Siebenbäumen, Ziehten, Roseburg, Behlendorf, Seedorf, Besenthal, Mechow, Lehmrade, Alt Mölln, Grambek, Dassendorf, Güster, Hollenbek.
Go to the main travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.
