Discover Gudow

Gudow lies in the forest- and lake-rich landscape of the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park. The town’s most distinctive architectural feature is St. Mary’s Church. It gives Gudow a clear historical focal point; exploring other nature and cultural attractions broadens the view to the wider travel destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg.

St. Mary’s Church in Gudow

St. Mary’s Church is a Romanesque hall church with a flat roof, built of fieldstone. Dating from the late 12th to early 13th century, it is considered the oldest rural stone church building in the Lauenburg region. Much of its original character has been preserved. Several specific features inform its architectural classification: the fieldstone masonry, the building’s form, the flat roof and its Romanesque period. Its regional distinction specifically relates to rural stone church buildings. The church can therefore be described not only in terms of its age, but also by its materials, construction and preserved character.

Exploring the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park

The nature park offers various ways to experience the landscape: visitors can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in the refreshing forest lakes. Around 20 signposted cycling and hiking routes, along with themed tours, add to the range of activities. There are also guided excursions with experts on wildlife, plant life and the district’s cultural history. If you would like to plan a specific excursion, check the dates in advance.

The nature park’s visitor facilities include hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and places to rest. It has been designated a protected area for visitors to enjoy since 1960. Covering an area of about 35 by 17 kilometres, the nature park provides habitat for, among other species, kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes. The combination of trails, viewpoints and nature trails offers different ways to experience the landscape: sometimes the focus is on travelling a route, sometimes on observing or taking a break.

Duchy of Lauenburg: Nature and Culture

The wider travel destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg extends the view of the landscape beyond Gudow. Forests cover 26 percent of the Duchy of Lauenburg district, which also includes 48 lakes. The district is also home to the Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest in Schleswig-Holstein. The Schaalsee landscape lies in the eastern part of the duchy. Schaalsee is the deepest clear-water lake in northern Germany; its deepest point is 72 metres below the water’s surface. These regional figures help distinguish Gudow’s connection to the landscape from the duchy’s broader nature destinations.

Cultural interests can also broaden your view of the Duchy of Lauenburg. The Elbe Shipping Museum in Lauenburg/Elbe features “Man-Model-Machine,” an interactive, three-storey exhibition on shipping. Visitors can get hands-on with models and experimental stations. The District Museum of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Ratzeburg offers a different historical perspective: its exhibits cover the history of the dukes of Lauenburg and the inner German border. The museums therefore focus on different subjects: shipping at one, regional and border history at the other.

The region’s cultural programme also includes Kultursommer am Kanal, a four-week cultural festival held every summer. If a particular date matters for your trip, check that year’s programme. This lets you tailor your search to your travel interests without conflating local and regional destinations.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Schulendorf, Krummesse, Tramm, Aumühle, Salem, Seedorf, Kittlitz, Berkenthin

Go to the broader travel overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.