Groß Sarau on Lake Ratzeburg

Groß Sarau stretches along the western shore of Lake Ratzeburg, from Lübeck and Groß Grönau in the north to Pogeez in the south. The municipality is located within the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park. Water shapes the choice of activities, while walking and cycling routes also pass through the municipality. If you’re looking for a hotel in Groß Sarau, you can first consider whether sailing, paddling, swimming, or an inland excursion will define your stay. The places and routes below differ mainly in terms of the body of water and the type of activity.

Sailing at Schanzenberg

On Lake Ratzeburg, Schanzenberg is the main sailing destination in Groß Sarau. It is a sailing hub, and three Lübeck sailing clubs have their summer bases there. Schanzenberg also has a boat hoist. For canoeing, by contrast, the freely accessible launch point on the Wakenitz is relevant.

Canoeing, swimming, and the Wakenitz

The canoe launch on the Wakenitz has parking, sanitary facilities, and space for trailers. Lake Ratzeburg is about a 120-metre walk from there. When planning, you can therefore distinguish between the launch point on the Wakenitz and the nearby lake as your point of reference. There is also a bathing area with a DLRG lifeguard station on the shore of Lake Ratzeburg.

Wakenitz-Camp is located right on the Wakenitz, near Lake Ratzeburg. Canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and overnight stays are available in one place; paddling and cycling through the surrounding natural landscape are also possible. Check availability separately for your preferred travel dates. This offers several different starting points for a stay by the water, in addition to the sailing hub at Schanzenberg.

Walking and cycling routes

The Drägerweg trail takes walkers and cyclists from Lübeck to Rothenhusen without using busy road sections. Its final section passes through Groß Sarau to the historic Rothenhusen ferry house on Lake Ratzeburg. The Ice Age Tour follows a different sequence of places: after Buchholz and Pogeez, it passes through Groß Sarau and continues to Holstendorf after leaving Lake Ratzeburg.

The two routes therefore have different points of reference for comparison: Rothenhusen is the destination on the Drägerweg, while the Ice Age Tour can be identified by the places it passes through. Which detail is more useful for your planning depends on whether you’re looking for a named destination or a series of stops.

A place of remembrance

The sculpture “Overcoming Borders” stands in Groß Sarau beside the Wakenitz pedestrian bridge between Schattin and Nädlershorst. It commemorates German division and reunification. This adds a historical perspective to the themes of water, cycling, and walking.

Cycling in the wider destination

In the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg, the Old Salt Road connects Lüneburg and Lübeck over 113 kilometres. The route is considered not very demanding and suitable for beginners, recreational cyclists, and families with children. It offers another regional point of reference for visitors who would like to include cycling in their trip plans.

Discover more destinations: Grambek, Wohltorf, Mechow, Mölln, Kittlitz, Schwarzenbek-Land, Groß Disnack, Behlendorf

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Duchy of Lauenburg.