Fredeburg: Bison and Historic Traces

Fredeburg offers two clearly distinct points of interest to help you plan your trip: the bison enclosure, which is directly connected to a hiking trail, and visible traces of a historic landwehr and the Old Salt Road.

Bison Enclosure and Hiking Trail

At the bison enclosure, you can observe European bison; calves can be seen when there are any. Admission is free. The animals are considered Europe’s largest land mammals. If you want to include wildlife watching and hiking in your trip plans, this is a specific point of interest: the enclosure is directly connected to a hiking trail. Trail conditions can change seasonally, so check them before setting out on a hike.

Historic Traces in the Landscape

Fredeburg preserves traces of a historic landwehr and the Old Salt Road. A fortified tower guarded a former passage; remains of the associated ditches and ramparts are still visible in the landscape. This means you can also experience history here as a feature of the landscape. For travelers interested in historic routes and fortifications, this offers a different focus from wildlife watching at the bison enclosure.

The Wider Destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg

In the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg, forests and lakes complement Fredeburg’s local character with a broader landscape setting. The district of Herzogtum Lauenburg is 26 percent forested and includes 48 lakes. The district is also home to the Sachsenwald, Schleswig-Holstein’s largest contiguous forest. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies in the heart of the duchy. It covers an area of about 35 by 17 kilometers and provides habitat for, among others, kingfishers, white-tailed eagles, and cranes.

The nature park has hiking trails, observation towers, educational trails, and rest areas, and has been designated a protected area for visitors to enjoy since 1960. The Schaalsee is another regional highlight: it is considered the deepest clear-water lake in northern Germany, with its deepest point 72 meters below the water’s surface. At Lake Mechow, an observation tower invites visitors to watch waterbirds. With a little luck, you may also spot a white-tailed eagle there.

Activities in the Duchy of Lauenburg

In the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park, you can hike, cycle, canoe, and swim in forest lakes. Four signposted cycling routes are available. If you prefer to explore on foot, the wider destination also offers the long-distance hiking trails E1, E6, and E9: they run from north to south through the Duchy of Lauenburg via Ratzeburg, Mölln, and Lauenburg. A guided excursion with experts may focus on the district’s wildlife and plant life or cultural history. Check the relevant dates before your visit.

Cultural History in the Region

The cultural attractions in the Duchy of Lauenburg also each have their own focus. The District Museum of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Ratzeburg displays exhibits on the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the inner-German border. In Lauenburg/Elbe, the Elbe Shipping Museum focuses on navigation: its interactive exhibition “People-Model-Machine” spans three floors. Visitors can get hands-on with models and experiment stations.

You can therefore organize your travel interests on two levels: Fredeburg offers opportunities for bison watching, hiking, and exploring historic traces in the landscape; forests, lakes, trails, and museums are part of the wider setting of the Duchy of Lauenburg.

Discover more destinations: Mechow, Groß Sarau, Mustin, Alt Mölln, Krukow, Schulendorf, Groß Disnack, Lauenburg Lakes.

View the wider travel overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.