Gülzow can be explored through two specific themes: the history of St. Petri and the manor, and the 64.71-kilometre Lauenburg/Elbe Technology Tour. On this regional cycling route, Gülzow is a place to stop for refreshments; the church and manor ensemble give the village its own historical points of interest.
The church and manor as historical anchors
Together with its churchyard, the tombs dating up to 1870, a stone wall and the surrounding oak trees, St. Petri Church is considered significant in historical, artistic, urban-planning and cultural-landscape terms. The date limit applies to the tombs and provides a specific point of reference for this part of the ensemble.
Gülzow was first mentioned in a document in 1230. The manor’s ownership history includes the Schack family and, later, the Counts of Kielmansegg. The historic manor ensemble comprises the castle site and former brewery, two mausoleums, a rent collector’s house, garden walls and gate structures. It also includes two brick arch bridges over the Linau and the former manor garden with its ditches and ponds.
The Technology Tour as a cycling option
The 64.71-kilometre Lauenburg/Elbe Technology Tour passes historic monuments, old churches and the Elbe-Lübeck Canal. Gülzow is a place to stop for refreshments along the route. This brings regional cycling routes into focus alongside the history associated with the village. Check the latest notices about bridge works before setting out.
The wider setting of the Duchy of Lauenburg
At a regional level, the Duchy of Lauenburg offers a different perspective on the landscape and excursions. Forests cover 26 percent of the Duchy of Lauenburg district, which includes 48 lakes. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. Its area is about 35 by 17 kilometres and provides habitats for, among others, kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes. The district is also home to the Sachsenwald, Schleswig-Holstein’s largest contiguous forest.
The nature park has hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and places to rest; since 1960, it has been designated a protected area for visitors to explore. Visitors can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in the refreshing forest lakes. Guided excursions with experts focus on the district’s wildlife, plant life and cultural history. For specific dates, it is worth checking the current programme.
There are several ways to explore the Duchy on cycling and walking tours: four cycling routes are signposted in the nature park. The long-distance hiking trails E1, E6 and E9 run from north to south via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. The Old Salt Road long-distance cycle route runs from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal and through the duchy. These regional routes are options in their own right, alongside the Technology Tour and its connection to Gülzow.
Regional cultural attractions and trip planning
The museums also offer different perspectives: the interactive, three-storey “Man–Model–Machine” exhibition at the Elbe Shipping Museum in Lauenburg/Elbe explores maritime topics; visitors can get hands-on with models and interactive stations. The Duchy of Lauenburg District Museum in Ratzeburg focuses on the history of the dukes of Lauenburg and the inner German border. The Summer of Culture on the Canal is a four-week cultural festival held every summer; check the programme for the relevant year if you would like to attend during your trip.
If you are interested in St. Petri, the manor’s history and the Technology Tour, look for holiday apartments in Gülzow. If you are planning a broader trip in the Duchy of Lauenburg, first decide which natural and cultural attractions you would like to shape your stay around.
Discover more destinations: Basthorst.
Go to the overview of destinations: Schwarzenbek-Land.
