Nettelsee: Lakes, Trails and Local History

Nettelsee combines a landscape shaped by lakes and waterways with traces of its history. When looking for a hotel in Nettelsee, it can help to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: Would you mainly like to explore the landscape, plan a hike or learn about local history? In Nettelsee, the range of themes extends from waterways and trails to architectural history.

A Landscape of Lakes and a River

The municipal area includes Lakes Nettelsee and Holzsee, the Nettelau and smaller floodplain areas. Near Gut Nettelau, the Nettelau flows out of Holzsee and Nettelsee. In summer, Nettelsee is surrounded by hills and meadows. This brings together bodies of water, a river and smaller floodplains as distinct landscape features.

The Kielerkamper Weg offers another distinctive feature: it is a rare sunken lane bordered by hedges on both sides. In July 2026, restoration work on the Nettelau was underway as part of the A21 project; the measures were intended to protect otters and common frogs. As conditions may change in connection with construction work, check the local situation before your visit.

Hiking and Trails by Holzsee

A described hike along the Nettelau to Holzsee is about 6 km long and takes approximately 2 hours. The distance and approximate duration give you a time frame for fitting the tour into your plans. The route description dates from 2014; check the route and local conditions before setting out.

For one section of a route near Holzsee, a local description from 2014 specifies an access rule: motor vehicles are prohibited, but pedestrians and cyclists may use it. If you plan to take this section, confirm the access conditions locally. This will help you distinguish between the stated modes of travel in your plans without assuming that the local rule is permanent.

Chapel and Historical Traces

The Nettelsee Chapel is located at Kirchweg 17, 24250 Nettelsee. It was completed in early summer 1965 and was intended as a cemetery chapel and a space for worship services and gatherings. It was funded through the chapel construction program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schleswig-Holstein at the time. Its original purpose thus combined its connection to the cemetery with church and community use. A church account from 2015 continues to describe the chapel as a place for community and quiet reflection. If you plan to visit, check access arrangements in advance.

Nearby Gut Nettelau is also among the historical sites in the area: it was established in 1795 as a Meierhof (manor farm) belonging to Gut Depenau. The former Depenau small railway station stands on the old railway embankment and is almost unchanged on the outside. The two sites offer different historical perspectives: one concerns the founding of a manor farm, the other a former station building on the old railway line.

Planning Bus Connections

Bus route 363 runs between Plön, Ascheberg, Kalübbe, Depenau and Nettelsee. Route 425 runs between Warnau, Nettelsee, Löptin and Preetz. The routes serve different places; check the current timetable before travelling and choose the connection that best suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Högsdorf, Preetz, Preetz-Land, Schlesen, Selent-Schlesen, Löptin, Höhndorf, Bokhorst-Wankendorf.

Go to the main travel overview: Plön.