Krummesse: Church, Landscape and History

Krummesse combines a clear historical landmark with a distinctive landscape. At its centre is St. Johannis Church, completed around 1270. At the same time, the village lies in the Stecknitz-Delvenau lowlands, a broad, U-shaped glacial tunnel valley followed by today’s Elbe-Lübeck Canal. These two perspectives give your stay different points of focus: local history and landscape.

St. Johannis Church and Historic Ensemble

The area around the central church includes an 18th-century rectory and a former pastor’s widow’s house. Together, they form a historic ensemble with a range of architectural features. The church itself provides the older historical anchor, while the rectory adds a building dating from the 18th century.

The seasonal arrangements are important for your visit: the church is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Easter until the Harvest Festival. Check these visiting hours before planning your trip.

Lowlands and Canal

The Stecknitz-Delvenau lowlands shape Krummesse’s geographical setting. Their broad U-shape was formed by a glacial tunnel valley, whose course is followed by the modern Elbe-Lübeck Canal. The geological origins and the present-day canal are thus two distinct layers of time within the same landscape. Alongside the village’s historical landmark, this valley offers a second perspective if you want to understand Krummesse through its geographical location.

The Duchy of Lauenburg as a Regional Setting

The wider travel destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg features a larger landscape of forests and lakes: 26 percent of the district is forest, and it includes 48 lakes. The district is also home to the Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest in Schleswig-Holstein. These regional landscape features add another perspective on the wider travel destination to the view of the lowlands in Krummesse.

The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park is a distinct natural highlight in the Duchy of Lauenburg. There, you can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in forest lakes. The nature park has hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and rest areas; it has been designated as a protected area for visitors to enjoy since 1960. Four signposted cycling routes offer another way to explore the region by bike.

The nature park covers an area of approximately 35 by 17 kilometres and provides a habitat for species including kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes. Guided excursions with experts focus on the district’s wildlife, plant life and cultural history. If you plan to join an excursion, check the specific dates in advance.

There are also regional reference points for longer journeys: the European long-distance footpaths E1, E6 and E9 cross the Duchy of Lauenburg from north to south via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. The Old Salt Road long-distance cycle route runs from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal and through the duchy.

Culture and Maritime History in the Region

For a cultural highlight in the wider travel destination, you can explore different aspects of history. 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 maritime history: its interactive, three-storey exhibition, “People-Model-Machine”, features models and experimental stations where visitors can take part themselves.

Discover more destinations: Römnitz, Mölln, Sterley, Tramm, Hollenbek, Lauenburg Lakes, Wentorf bei Hamburg, Siebenbäumen.

Back to the main travel overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.