Emkendorf combines the history of an estate with a landscape of forests, water and rolling terrain. Traces of cultural history, its connection to a nature park and a bathing area add different dimensions to a stay. When planning, you can decide whether the estate’s history or nature and swimming should take centre stage.

Manor House and Cultural Landscape

The 1730 manor house is the centrepiece of Gut Emkendorf. The Emkendorf Avenue is around four kilometres long and represents the estate and landscape culture of the late 18th and 19th centuries. The house and avenue therefore point to different historical periods. The Emkendorf Circle also took shape at the estate; figures associated with it include Klopstock, the Stolberg brothers, Lavater and Matthias Claudius.

The English landscape garden behind the manor house is ideal for leisurely walks. The parkland at the manor house includes Hasensee Lake. The estate’s landscape thus extends from the building and avenue to the garden and water.

Nature Park and Nature Reserve

Emkendorf is located in Westensee Nature Park. Extensive forests and bodies of water in rolling terrain define the landscape; the municipality is also home to the Methorst Nature Reserve. For orientation, two levels can be distinguished: the nature park describes the broader landscape setting, while Methorst is a specifically named protected area within the municipality. The wider Rendsburg-Eckernförde destination is home to four nature parks.

Visits and Events

Gut Emkendorf is open to visitors. Weddings, trade fairs, markets, conferences and guided tours are held at the estate. Before travelling, check the current access arrangements and, if you are visiting for an event, its date. Concerts are held regularly in the large barn, including concerts associated with the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. As the events calendar changes, check concert dates against your travel dates.

Swimming at Emkendorfer Dörpsee

Emkendorfer Dörpsee has a developed bathing area with a sunbathing lawn, sanitary facilities, changing facilities and a snack bar. This offers a different focus from the cultural activities at the estate: here, the bathing area and its facilities take centre stage. Use of the facilities may depend on local conditions; before your visit, check whether the facilities you need for your plans are available.

Where to Stay and Choosing What to Focus On

The manor house has five rustic double rooms available for overnight stays. Ask directly about availability for your travel dates before making firm plans to stay there. Concerts and guided tours can be a reason to plan your stay around specific dates; the avenue, garden and bathing area offer different thematic highlights. So consider whether a particular activity or the landscape and swimming are what you want to shape your visit.

Discover more destinations: Thumby, Nortorf, Altenholz, Bokel, Langwedel, Aukrug, Melsdorf, Schwedeneck.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.