Schönberg: Forest, Postal History and Culture

Schönberg combines a distinctive forest landscape with a history linked to the historic postal service. Schönberg Forest covers more than 400 hectares and shapes the surrounding landscape. At the same time, Schönberg developed into an important postal station on the historic Hamburg–Lübeck route. The former Neoclassical post house has survived from a later period in this history. The landscape and postal history give the town two distinct features that may influence your decision to visit Schönberg.

Culture in the Town

Since 1989, Kornboden Schönberg has served as the local cultural center. Its program includes theater performances, movie nights, children’s festivals, a Christmas market, and other community events. The range therefore extends from stage and film to festivals and activities for children. If you would also like to plan your stay around cultural events, Kornboden is a local point of reference. Individual event dates may change, so check the current program before your trip.

Nature and Outdoor Activities in the Wider Destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg

The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg offers landscapes beyond Schönberg. In the district of Herzogtum Lauenburg, 26 percent of the area is forested; it also includes 48 lakes. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. It covers an area of about 35 by 17 kilometers and provides habitats for kingfishers, white-tailed eagles, cranes, and other wildlife. In the nature park, you will find hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails, and places to rest; it has been designated a protected area for experiencing nature since 1960.

The nature park also offers a range of activities: visitors can hike, cycle, canoe, and swim in the refreshing forest lakes. There are four signposted cycling routes. A circular route of about 40 kilometers through the nature park starts in the cathedral and island town of Ratzeburg. If you are comparing cycling routes, this approximate distance provides a concrete point of reference for planning.

There are also different options on the water: a canoe trip can lead from Lake Schaalsee via the lakes of Lauenburg and the Wakenitz to Lübeck; local navigation restrictions may vary, so check the information in advance. Sailing is possible on Lake Ratzeburg. The observation tower on Lake Mechow invites you to watch waterbirds; with a little luck, you may also spot a white-tailed eagle.

Culture in the Duchy of Lauenburg

The cultural offerings in the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg can also be explored by theme. The Herzogtum Lauenburg District Museum in Ratzeburg displays exhibits on the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the border between East and West Germany. At the Elbe Shipping Museum in Lauenburg/Elbe, the three-story interactive exhibition “People–Model–Machine” focuses on shipping; visitors can take part themselves at models and interactive stations. The Kultursommer am Kanal takes place every year in summer as a four-week cultural festival along the canal. Since specific dates may matter for your travel plans, check that year’s program before planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Mustin, Krummesse, Krukow, Mechow, Möhnsen, Seedorf, Rondeshagen, Groß Disnack

To the overview of the wider destination: Duchy of Lauenburg.