Duchy of Lauenburg: Lakes, Forests and Culture

Discover the Duchy of Lauenburg through its forests and lakes, its walking and cycling routes, and its museums. Forests cover 26 percent of the district, which is home to 48 lakes. The district also includes the Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest in Schleswig-Holstein. The Elbe forms the Duchy’s southern boundary; the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the region.

Forests, Lakes and the Nature Park

The nature park covers an area of about 35 by 17 kilometres and provides a habitat for species including kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes. Since 1960, it has been designated as a protected area for visitors to enjoy. Its visitor facilities include hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and rest areas. At Lake Mechow, an observation tower invites you to watch waterbirds; with a little luck, you may also spot a white-tailed eagle. The wooded islets of Seedorf and Groß Zecher lie on the western shore of Lake Schaalsee.

Lake Schaalsee is the deepest clear-water lake in northern Germany. Its deepest point lies 72 metres below the water’s surface. These varied natural attractions offer different ways to shape your stay: take in the views and watch birds at Lake Mechow, explore Lake Schaalsee’s remarkable depth, or follow trails through the nature park. In the nature park, you can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in the forest lakes.

Explore on Foot, by Bike and on the Water

The European long-distance hiking trails E1, E6 and E9 cross the Duchy from north to south, passing through Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. One option for a cycling trip is the Lakes Cycle Tour: this circular route is about 40 kilometres long, runs through the nature park and starts in Ratzeburg, the cathedral and island town. The nature park also has four signposted cycling routes. The Old Salt Road long-distance cycle route runs from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal and passes through the Duchy.

Waterways also shape the region. The Elbe-Lübeck Canal, which is more than 100 years old, and the lakes complement the Elbe as places for sport and recreation. You can sail on Lake Ratzeburg. A canoe trip can take you from Lake Schaalsee through the Lauenburg lakes and along the Wakenitz to Lübeck. As local navigation rules may vary, check them before setting out.

Museums and Events

In Lauenburg/Elbe, the Elbe Shipping Museum presents the interactive, three-storey exhibition “Human–Model–Machine” on shipping. Visitors can get hands-on with models and experimental stations. For a different historical perspective, the District Museum of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Ratzeburg features exhibits on the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the inner-German border.

If you would like to explore nature and culture together, the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park offers guided excursions with experts focusing on the district’s wildlife, plant life and cultural history; check the dates of individual events in advance. The Uhlenkolk Environmental Centre in Mölln offers nature-based educational and hands-on activities for kindergartens, school classes, families and adults. Check the current opening arrangements before visiting. The four-week-long Summer of Culture on the Canal also takes place every year in summer; consult the current programme for details of specific events.

Local Breaks and Hotel Planning

Farm cafés in the Duchy of Lauenburg are known for homemade cakes made with regional products. The Labenz Stolz Coffee Roastery offers a distinctive coffee experience: it roasts coffee using a traditional, flavour-preserving, long-duration drum-roasting process. The roastery is located in a lovingly restored farmhouse dating from 1890 and, in addition to coffee, sells selected chocolates, marzipan, gourmet foods and wines.

The destinations mentioned are spread across towns such as Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg/Elbe. Choose your accommodation based on your specific plans and route stages. For rail travel, Büchen is a major rail hub: the Hamburg–Schwerin–Berlin and Lübeck–Lüneburg routes connect it to the long-distance rail network. Check current timetables before finalising your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Nusse, Lankau, Aumühle, Fredeburg, Geesthacht, Wentorf Bei Hamburg, Ratzeburg, Rondeshagen, Elmenhorst, Schönberg, Mölln, Mustin, Groß Grönau, Lauenburg/Elbe, Klempau, Krummesse, Krukow, Kittlitz, Gudow, Breitenfelde, Tramm, Römnitz, Berkenthin, Ziehten, Groß Sarau, Siebenbäumen, Lauenburg Lakes, Schwarzenbek-Land, Güster, Salem, Wohltorf, Müssen, Möhnsen, Linau, Kuddewörde, Krüzen, Sterley, Schulendorf, Brunstorf, Hohenhorn, Alt Mölln, Behlendorf, Lehmrade, Seedorf, Roseburg, Besenthal, Mechow, Groß Disnack, Grambek, Dassendorf, Hollenbek.

View the main travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.