Petersdorf: Church, Beach and Culture

If you’re looking for a hotel in Petersdorf, you can choose where to stay based on different interests: medieval church art, a day at the natural beach or cultural events. St. Johannis Church combines a long construction history with remarkable furnishings; at the Fehmarn bathing area in Petersdorf, natural sand, dunes and shallow sandbanks shape the landscape. Other highlights include the Alte Schule, a cultural meeting place, the Südermühle and an information point open around the clock. These highlights give you concrete pointers to which sides of Petersdorf suit your travel plans.

St. Johannis Church: Construction History and Furnishings

St. Johannis Church dates back to the 13th century. Its 64-metre-high tower is visible up to 20 miles out to sea; it served as a daytime landmark for ships in the Belt and Sound. The church and adjoining cemetery are surrounded by 64 lime trees. Inside, you can see a particularly valuable 15th-century altarpiece, an old Gotland limestone baptismal font and a Gothic three-winged altarpiece from the 14th century. The three-winged altarpiece is therefore older than the altarpiece shrine and is considered a major work of Gothic carving and painting. The tower points to the building’s maritime function, while the altar, shrine and font are its main art-historical features.

Church Tour on Fehmarn

The church in Petersdorf is also part of the 41-kilometre Church Tour on Fehmarn, a cycling route to four historic churches. On the tour, you can visit the churches in Landkirchen, Burg, Bannesdorf and Petersdorf. The total distance of 41 kilometres applies to the cycling tour; Petersdorf is one of its stops. You can visit the church as a cultural highlight in its own right or include it in the wider cycling theme, with three other church locations.

Natural Beach and Waterside Activities

The Fehmarn bathing area in Petersdorf is all about the landscape and waterside activities. The long, shallow natural sandy beach has dunes; the shallow sandbanks are suitable for swimming or snorkelling. This makes it different from the church art and cycling tour: here, the beach, dunes and two specific activities shape your stay. When weighing up your travel interests, Petersdorf offers both historic culture and time by the water.

Cultural Activities and Historic Mill

For culture beyond religious architecture, there’s the Alte Schule Petersdorf. It is a cultural meeting place on the island, regularly hosting courses and gatherings as well as a wide range of events. Unlike a visit to a historic building, its programme is shaped by recurring gatherings and events. If a particular course or date is important to your trip, check the date of the relevant event in advance.

The Südermühle adds another distinct historic feature: it is a Dutch-style windmill built in 1893. Its construction date is considerably later than that of St. Johannis Church, which dates back to the 13th century. Petersdorf is therefore home to different historical periods side by side, from the medieval church to a mill from the late 19th century.

Rapeseed Blossom Festival and Getting Your Bearings

The Rapeseed Blossom Festival in Petersdorf is a seasonal event held every year. When the rapeseed fields bloom in May, the town celebrates for three days with music, performers and numerous stalls. The festival also includes the crowning of the new Rapeseed Blossom Queen and Rapeseed Blossom Princess. The flowering season, three-day schedule and ceremonies give the festival a distinct place among Petersdorf’s cultural activities. If you’d like to plan your trip around the event, check the specific dates.

For help getting your bearings, there is also an information point open around the clock, with free informational materials. So, alongside the individual attractions and events, there’s a practical source of information to help you plan your trip.

Discover more destinations: Fehmarnsund, Bannesdorf, Bisdorf, Landkirchen, Presen, Puttgarden, Katharinenhof, Burg on Fehmarn.

For the main travel overview: Fehmarn.