Grube: Baltic Sea, Village History and Nature

Grube can be explored through two themes: the Baltic Sea at Rosenfelder Strand and the history of rural life. The beach is Grube’s gateway to the Baltic Sea: the 2.5-kilometre-long natural beach has no visitor fee. There are sections for dog owners and naturists; the dune landscape is considered unspoilt. Check the local access rules before your visit. This lets you take both the type of coastal area and the applicable conditions into account when planning your trip.

Village History and Architecture

Grube Village Museum is housed in a typical building dating from 1890. Its collection of local folklore and exhibits on the area’s early history focus on rural life before the advent of modern technology. Documented topics include the harvesting and processing of reeds and the drainage of Lake Gruber in 1938. In this way, the museum traces the story from everyday work with reeds to a change in the landscape. Exhibitions may be updated.

St. Jürgen Church was first mentioned in documents in 1232 and is one of the oldest early Gothic brick churches. Inside is an important winged altarpiece from the 15th century, considered a significant example of Late Gothic panel painting. Those interested in medieval architecture will find not only the church building here, but also a specific work of art from that period. In nearby Siggeneben, which is connected to Grube, listed whitewashed thatched-roof houses shape the village landscape. Access to individual properties may be restricted.

Birdwatching and the Landscape Around the Former Lake

The birdwatching station near Rosenfelder Strand brings together different types of landscape, including three hectares of water and eleven hectares of extensively managed grassland. Three viewing windows allow visitors to observe various bird species at close range. How easily wildlife can be seen depends on the season. The best way to reach the station is on foot or by bicycle; signs and access conditions may change.

White storks can also be observed: they nest on the former dairy chimney near Haus Avalon, close to the church. After their return from their wintering grounds, you can follow the nesting activity live. At Paasch-Eyler-Platz, a viewpoint opens up a view across the former lakebed of Lake Gruber; information panels explain the area’s history. If you want to make a point of using the panels, check their condition before your visit, as individual installations may be undergoing maintenance or may have been changed.

At Dunker’scher Platz in Grube, there are two competition-standard boules courts and a view across the former lowland of Lake Gruber. Availability on site may vary; check the conditions before using the courts. The Grube Scout site includes a lake, several hills, a 400-metre canoe course and an amphitheatre. It is maintained by the local Scout group. Check visitor access and the conditions for using the site locally.

Cycling, Hiking and Other Activities

From Grube, you can use more than 300 kilometres of developed and signposted cycling and hiking trails to explore the wider OstseeFerienLand region. This figure describes the trail network, not the length of a single route. As routes and signs may change, it is worth checking the current route before setting off on foot or by bicycle.

Introductory courses and sightseeing flights are offered at Grube Airfield by LSC Condor. As flight options and operating conditions may change, check them before booking. This gives you another option to consider when planning your trip, alongside cycling, hiking and birdwatching, though each activity involves a different kind of visit.

Culture in Ostholstein

Ostholstein also offers cultural attractions in different locations. Every summer in Eutin, the Eutin Festival presents changing opera or operetta performances as open-air events. The Ostholstein Museum in Eutin combines temporary exhibitions with a permanent exhibition about Eutin during its heyday around 1800. Cismar Monastery in the municipality of Grömitz also hosts changing exhibitions; in the winter half of the year, concerts are added in the vaulted hall. This means that Ostholstein offers summer open-air performances, an insight into Eutin’s history and exhibitions, and a seasonal concert programme at different locations.

Discover more destinations: Wangels, Neustadt / Holstein, Göhl, Fehmarn, Timmendorfer Strand, Malente, Neukirchen, Riepsdorf.

See the full travel overview: Ostholstein.