Schwartbuck between Lake Selent and the Baltic Sea

Schwartbuck lies between Lake Selent and the Baltic Sea. Its documented history stretches back more than 800 years.

History and historic landmarks

Schwartbuck was first mentioned in 1216 as “SUARCE PUC”; later, it developed into an estate and farming village. The first recorded mention and the village’s later development mark distinct historical periods: the early written record stands alongside the longer-term influence of the estate and agriculture.

From the L 165 in the direction of the Baltic Sea, you can see the imposing buildings of Gut Schmoel. They date from the 17th and 18th centuries. This provides a much later architectural point of reference alongside the first mention of Schwartbuck in 1216.

Land use in the Mühlenau Valley

In the Mühlenau Valley, land was taken out of agricultural use and placed under nature protection. Thus, both its former use and its protected status form part of the area’s landscape development.

Schmoel coastal lakes and coastal habitats

In the regional context of Plön District, the Schmoel coastal lakes provide undisturbed habitat for waders and waterfowl to moult, rest, breed and forage. The species present vary by season.

The Schmoel protected area is also part of the wider Plön District region: it covers 50 hectares and encompasses a beach ridge, coastal lakes fringed with brackish-water reeds, coastal grassland and other characteristic Baltic Sea habitats.

The wider region: Plön District

Plön District is home to around 80 lakes. At 29 km², Great Plön Lake is larger than Lake Selent, which covers 22 km². The district lies between the Baltic Sea and the Holstein Switzerland region and has around 50 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline.

There are places to swim along the Baltic coast of Plön District, from Mönkeberg to Sehlendorfer Strand. Other activities include sailing, surfing, diving, boat excursions, offshore sailing trips, cutter trips and surf fishing. The lakes can be explored by sailboat or excursion boat; the Schwentine waterway can be explored by canoe in Plön District.

Large parts of the district lie within Holstein Switzerland Nature Park, which spans 75,000 hectares and offers opportunities to experience nature as well as habitat for rare animals. The district’s gently rolling landscape is ideal for cycling and hiking.

The district’s signposted cycling network covers 850 km, complemented by developed Nordic walking routes. A two-day cycling tour, “Baltic Coast – Holstein Switzerland,” starts in Kiel and runs via Plön and Lütjenburg to the Baltic coast; it is particularly suitable for pedelecs. The network and routes may be adjusted in the future.

Plön District also has cultural attractions: Plön Castle overlooks the lake of the same name in Holstein Switzerland and is the district’s landmark. Gut Panker is more than 500 years old and is now open to tourists; the estate was formerly managed by the Rantzau family. Lütjenburg is known for its historic town centre.

Discover more destinations: Tröndel, Behrensdorf, Futterkamp, Panker, Blekendorf, Sehlendorf, Hohenfelde, Grebin

For the overview of the wider area: Lütjenburg.