Schmilau combines a long village history with a landscape of forests, moorland and water. An approximately 800-year-old chapel stands in the village centre; the district of Farchau also bears traces of paper production, grain milling and hydropower. Local history thus spans everything from medieval religious architecture to the history of technology.
Landscape around Ratzeburg Küchensee
Schmilau includes the district of Farchau and lies in a landscape of forest and moorland, on the southern shore of Ratzeburg Küchensee and beside the Schaalsee Canal. Terrain shaped by the Ice Age is also part of this landscape. Water, vegetation-covered areas and traces of the Ice Age thus form the setting for the village. Visitors choosing Schmilau as a destination can explore village history and the landscape as two distinct highlights.
The chapel and the history of technology
An approximately 800-year-old chapel stands in the village centre. The village history dates the construction of Schmilau Church to between 1210 and 1230.
In Farchau, a 16th-century paper mill has been preserved in its original form and is listed as a historic monument. The Farchauer Mühle inn developed on the former site of a grain watermill. The 1925 hydropower plant is also listed as a historic monument. Together, these sites illustrate different uses: papermaking, grain processing and energy generation. Those interested in the history of technology and industry will find different points of interest here than at the chapel in the village centre.
The former station of the Kaiserbahn railway is also connected to a present-day activity: it is still used for railbike rides operated by Erlebnisbahn Ratzeburg. If you are planning a ride, check the current dates and operating details in advance.
Agricultural produce
Agricultural produce associated with Schmilau includes strawberries, raspberries, asparagus and potatoes. If you are specifically looking for these products, it is best to check in advance whether and where they will be available during your trip; availability and sales channels may vary.
The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg
The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg opens up a broader landscape. Forests account for 26 percent of the district of the Duchy of Lauenburg, which also encompasses 48 lakes. The district is also home to Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest area in Schleswig-Holstein. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. It has hiking trails, observation towers, educational trails and rest areas, and has been set up as a protected area for visitors to enjoy since 1960.
Routes across the wider area differ in form: the European long-distance hiking trails E1, E6 and E9 run from north to south through the Duchy of Lauenburg via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. By contrast, a cycling tour of the lakes, approximately 40 kilometres long, follows a circular route through the nature park and starts in Ratzeburg. This offers two distinct regional options: a hiking route passing through several towns and a circular tour with a specified length.
Culture in the Duchy
The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg also offers distinct themes for those interested in culture. The Elbe Shipping Museum in Lauenburg/Elbe presents the interactive, three-storey exhibition “Mensch-Modell-Maschine” (“Human-Model-Machine”) about shipping. The District Museum of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Ratzeburg focuses on exhibits about the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the inner German border. The Kultursommer am Kanal takes place every summer and lasts four weeks; check the current programme and specific event dates for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Bäk
Back to the regional travel overview: Lauenburg Lakes.
