Kappeln between the Schlei and the Baltic Sea
Kappeln lies directly on the Schlei, near the Baltic Sea, in a gently rolling holiday landscape that offers activities on land and water. The townscape includes a harbor, a pedestrian zone, shops, restaurants and cafés. This brings together outdoor and water-based activities with everyday life in town. If you are considering Kappeln as a travel destination, you can focus on the Schlei and activities on the water, include the pedestrian zone and shops, or combine both. Restaurants and cafés offer places to eat and linger during your visit.
The herring fence: history and perspectives
Kappeln’s herring fence is a historic herring-fishing structure whose origins date back to the 15th century. The existing structure is considered the last of its kind in Germany and Europe. You can experience it from the Schlei Bridge, view it from a boat or learn more about it on a guided town tour. These three options offer different perspectives: from the bridge and the boat, the focus is on viewing the structure, while the tour also provides information about the herring fence. As a historic fishing structure, it connects your visit with a tangible example of local fishing history.
Getting your bearings in Kappeln
The Tourist Information office has an accessible entrance and offers expert regional assistance, local and regional tips, and information about events. You can book guided town tours there directly. It is a useful place to find your bearings if you are looking for information about the region or would like to learn about the herring fence as part of a walking tour.
Schleswig-Flensburg: historical and landscape themes
The wider travel destination of Schleswig-Flensburg offers more historical themes. Haithabu and the Danewerk have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since June 2018; more than 25 kilometers of the Danewerk rampart still remain today. The historic memorial site and Idstedt Museum provide information about German-Danish history surrounding the 1848 uprising and the Battle of Idstedt. While Kappeln’s herring fence connects with the town’s fishing history, these regional examples draw attention to World Heritage and German-Danish history.
The natural features of the wider travel destination of Schleswig-Flensburg also have their own distinct themes. In Schlei Nature Park, gentle hills, forests, hedgerow landscapes, rapeseed and grain fields, sandy beaches and swimming coves shape the scenery; the Schlei’s brackish-water areas provide a habitat for numerous endangered bird species. Geltinger Birk covers a total of 773 hectares and is the largest nature reserve in the Schleswig-Flensburg district. It has well-maintained paths and guided walks that share information about the local flora and fauna. On Holnis, also within the wider travel destination of Schleswig-Flensburg, more than 130 bird species can be observed, including around 65 breeding species. These examples offer different perspectives on nature: landscapes and bird habitats in Schlei Nature Park, guided nature walks in Geltinger Birk, and birdwatching on Holnis.
Discover more destinations: Olpenitz, Schleswig, Mittelangeln, Gelting, Haddeby, Gelting Bay, SĂĽderbrarup, Husby.
Back to the overview of destinations: Schleswig-Flensburg.
