In Bäk, local and border history meet activities in the surrounding farmland and boat trips across the lakes around Ratzeburg. A cultural trail explores local history and nature; nearby Grenzhus Schlagsdorf adds German-German history and a café to your stay. These offer different points of interest for planning your trip, which you can arrange according to your interests.

Cultural and Historical Trail in the Kupfermühlental Valley

The approximately 1.5-kilometer-long Cultural and Historical Trail leads through the Kupfermühlental Valley. Nine illustrated information boards cover local church and community history, the former watermill era, the postwar history of the border, as well as flora, fauna, and geology. The trail thus connects topics from Bäk’s history with nature and geology. If you would like to experience culture and landscape together during your stay, this offers a practical introduction to both.

Farmland Along the Former Green Belt

The farmland around Bäk borders the former inner-German Green Belt and is considered suitable for hiking, cycling, and Nordic walking. This broadens the picture beyond the information boards: alongside the history explored on the cultural trail, the former border landscape is a distinct point of interest in the area. When planning your trip, you can therefore decide whether to focus more on local history or on activities in the farmland.

Boat Trips and Grenzhus Schlagsdorf

A landing stage next to Bäk’s bathing area offers boat trips across the lakes around the island town of Ratzeburg. If you plan to take a trip, check the timetable in advance. Grenzhus Schlagsdorf can be reached from Bäk on foot or by bicycle along Lake Mechow and presents German-German history. The grounds also include Café Grenzstein, which serves lunch as well as homemade cakes and pastries. This gives you two distinct options to plan around: boat trips across the lakes, and a visit focused on history and a café.

A Wider View: The Duchy of Lauenburg

The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg provides its own regional context. Forests cover 26 percent of the Duchy of Lauenburg district, which includes 48 lakes. The district is also home to the Sachsenwald, Schleswig-Holstein’s largest contiguous forest.

The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the Duchy of Lauenburg. It covers an area approximately 35 by 17 kilometers in size and provides habitat for kingfishers, white-tailed eagles, and cranes, among other species. The nature park has hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails, and places to rest; it has been designated a protected area for visitors to explore since 1960. Visitors can hike, cycle, canoe, and swim in the forest lakes. Four signposted cycling routes offer further options. Guided excursions with experts focus on the district’s wildlife, plants, and cultural history; check specific dates in advance.

The District Museum of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Ratzeburg offers another regional cultural perspective. It displays exhibits on the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the German-German border. This offers a different focus from Grenzhus Schlagsdorf: here, both the history of the dukes and the border are central.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

These differences give your search a concrete connection to experiences in the area without requiring a fixed daily itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Schmilau.

View the broader travel guide: Lauenburg Lakes.