Gentle Landscapes, Diverse Themes

Gentle contours shaped by Ice Age terminal moraines define the landscape around Gettorf. The town is part of the Eckernförde Bay holiday region. Several distinct themes can help you plan your stay: local history, historic church art, hands-on geology and encounters with animals. You can tailor your choice to the kind of discovery that interests you most.

Museum and Historic Mill

The Gettorf Local History Museum stands beside a historic mill dating from 1869. The Seidel Room displays objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. The carriage house features agricultural, carpentry and blacksmithing tools, as well as historic carriages dating from around 1925. The exhibition thus offers a range of insights: into objects from earlier times, different crafts and the history of carriages. The mill right next to the museum adds a striking building to this historical context.

Church History and Art

Several historic furnishings have been preserved in St. Jürgen Church: a baptismal font from 1482, a Marian altar from 1520 and a pulpit by Gudewerdt dating from 1598. There is also a historic Marcussen organ from 1866. These dates show that the church preserves furnishings from several centuries. St. Jürgen Chapel is also part of the town’s religious history: between 1460 and 1530, it became an important pilgrimage site in the duchy. Cultural history tours and visits to the church tower can be arranged for groups of six or more.

Hands-on Geology

The Geotanium is an interactive geology museum. Visitors can pan for gold and dig up dinosaurs; there are also exhibits to touch and experiments to try for themselves. The focus is therefore not just on looking, but on taking part. The Geotanium’s location offers a useful reference point for planning your journey: it is about 100 metres from Gettorf railway station. By car, it can be reached via the B76 and the Gettorf exit.

Animal Encounters and a Wet-Weather Option

At Gettorf Animal Park, walk-through aviaries and enclosures allow visitors to get close to the animals. Tropical halls and walk-through animal houses are also suitable for visits in bad weather. This sets the animal park apart from the historic collections and the Geotanium: encounters with animals and walk-through enclosures are at the heart of the park, while the Geotanium offers experiments and geological activities. The halls and animal houses are also a useful point to bear in mind if you would like to include a visit in your plans for unfavourable weather.

Gettorf in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde Destination

The wider Rendsburg-Eckernförde destination offers a broader landscape setting: the district has 55 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline and a signposted network of 1,000 kilometres of cycle paths. The district is also home to four nature parks. These regional facts add another perspective to Gettorf’s themes without equating the town’s sights with attractions offered at district level.

Different Themes for Your Stay

Gettorf brings together different ways to explore: historic objects and church art, geology to try for yourself, and encounters with animals. When deciding what to visit, it may help to consider whether you would prefer to focus on history, hands-on experiments or the animal park. If you are planning a group tour or a visit to the tower at St. Jürgen Church, you can take into account that arrangements are available for groups of six or more.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Seefeld, Rickert, Westensee, Holzbunge, Rendsburg, Fleckeby, Gammelby, Hoffeld.

Back to the main travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.