Explore Salem through three distinct points of interest: the village with its Low German farmhouses and St. Bartholomew’s Chapel, opportunities for swimming and rowing on Lake Salem, and the farm tour. You can tailor your stay to the village, the water or the tour.
Village Character and Activities on the Water
The village’s character is shaped by its large Low German farmhouses and St. Bartholomew’s Chapel, which stands on a hill within the settlement. The houses and the chapel’s elevated position give the village a varied appearance. For a stay focused on regional architectural styles, both offer a tangible point of interest; you can also get to know Salem through its architecture.
Lake Salem offers opportunities for swimming and rowing. Which of these activities suits your stay also depends on local conditions. Take these into account when making specific plans.
Farm Tour and Getting There
The farm tour starts and ends at the car park by the community centre in Salem. This shared starting and ending point provides a clear reference for planning the route. Kaisers Hofladen und Café in Salem is a possible stop for a break during the tour. Check the current business details before visiting, as they may change.
From Ratzeburg, you can reach Salem via the L203 and SeestraĂźe. There are paid parking spaces by the community centre. As local regulations may change, it is advisable to check the current parking situation before travelling.
If you are looking for accommodation in Salem, you can first decide whether you would like to focus your stay on the village, activities on Lake Salem or the farm tour. This lets you tailor your search to the interests that matter most for your trip.
Nature and Trails in the Duchy of Lauenburg
Across the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg, 26 percent of the district’s area is woodland; the district also has 48 lakes. The Sachsenwald, Schleswig-Holstein’s largest contiguous forest, is also located here. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies in the heart of the Duchy.
Visitors to the nature park can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in forest lakes. Four signposted cycling routes offer different options for outings on two wheels. Visitor facilities also include hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and places to rest. The area measures around 35 by 17 kilometres and provides a habitat for, among other species, kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes.
Waterbirds can be observed from the observation tower on Lake Mechow; with a little luck, you may also spot a white-tailed eagle there. Guided excursions with experts focus on the district’s flora and fauna as well as its cultural history. Check the dates if you would like to include a guided tour in your plans.
Regional Outings and Travel Planning
For hikes through the Duchy of Lauenburg, the European long-distance trails E1, E6 and E9 run from north to south via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. The long-distance cycling route Alte Salzstraße runs from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe–Lübeck Canal through the Duchy. This gives you a choice of regional walking and cycling routes for different kinds of outings.
One cultural destination in the Duchy is the Elbschifffahrtsmuseum in Lauenburg/Elbe. Its three-storey interactive exhibition “Mensch-Modell-Maschine” explores topics related to shipping; visitors can get hands-on with models and interactive stations. Kultursommer am Kanal takes place every summer as a four-week cultural festival along the canal. If you are planning a trip for it, check that year’s programme.
Regional food culture also offers a reason for an outing: country and farm cafés in the Duchy of Lauenburg are known for homemade cakes made with regional products. Büchen Junction is an important rail hub for travel beyond the region. It connects the district to the long-distance rail network via the Hamburg–Schwerin–Berlin and Lübeck–Lüneburg routes.
Discover more destinations: Ziehten, Wohltorf, Aumühle, Lankau, Schönberg, Breitenfelde, Brunstorf, Sterley
Back to the regional travel overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.
