Rendsburg-Eckernförde: Nature, Coast and Culture

The district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde brings together several distinct ways to explore the region: trails through nature parks, the Baltic Sea coast, historic towns and regional food culture. When planning your trip, it is therefore helpful to first decide whether hiking, cycling, the coast or culture will be your main focus. The individual destinations offer specific points of reference.

Nature parks, lakes and wildlife

There are four nature parks in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. A significant proportion of their land consists of nature and landscape conservation areas; they are also habitats for a wide variety of animal and plant life. Numerous lake complexes shape the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands in Westensee-Obere Eider Nature Park. It includes Westensee, covering around seven square kilometres and a popular destination for day trips. Kingfishers live along the banks of the Eider in Westensee-Obere Eider Nature Park, while Dosenmoor is home to distinctive flora and fauna. Another prominent viewpoint is the 98-metre-high Aschberg: in fine weather, it offers panoramic views as far as the Kiel Canal, Eckernförde Bay and the state capital, Kiel.

Hiking and cycling trails in the district

The 180-kilometre Nature Park Trail runs through the district’s four nature parks. The European long-distance hiking trail E1 also passes through the Hütten Hills, Brekendorf Forest and over the Aschberg; it is marked along its entire route with a white St Andrew’s cross. The district also has a signposted cycling network stretching 1,000 kilometres. The figures refer to different offerings: 180 kilometres for the Nature Park Trail and 1,000 kilometres for the cycling network. This makes it possible to distinguish the options by preferred activity, rather than treating the distances as equivalent routes. A fifth stage from Kropp to Rendsburg runs through the nature park. In addition, around 70 kilometres, or two-thirds, of the Kiel Canal runs through the district.

The Baltic Sea coast and the tradition of smoking fish

The district has 55 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. Eckernförde has a four-kilometre-long white sandy beach. The town is also associated with the smoking of sprats and other small fish; the famous “Kiel sprats” actually come from the fishing town of Eckernförde. This links the coastal town to a distinctive beach and a long-established fishing tradition.

Historic towns and museums

Rendsburg’s old town was established in the 13th century and is still characterised by medieval buildings. The Jewish Museum is housed in Schleswig-Holstein’s oldest surviving synagogue and is both a historic architectural monument and a memorial site. The Dutch-style windmill in Groß Wittensee dates from 1874. In addition to its museum grounds, the Molfsee Open-Air Museum has a historic fairground with two carousels, a boat swing and a strength tester, as well as a large playground.

Discover more destinations

Rumohr, Osdorf, Beldorf, Waabs, Kosel, Molfsee, Kronshagen, Flintbek, Holzdorf, Schinkel, Bünsdorf, Alt Duvenstedt, Altenholz, Grevenkrug, Groß Wittensee, Jevenstedt, Rendsburg, Warder, Grevensberg, Sehestedt, Felm, Hohenwestedt, Brekendorf, Eckernförde, Damp, Krogaspe, Brodersby, Oldenbüttel, Büdelsdorf, Bokel, Hanerau-Hademarschen, Schönwohld, Haale, Rieseby, Todenbüttel, Blumenthal, Ahlefeld-Bistensee, Schönhagen, Bordesholm, Owschlag, Osterrönfeld, Mühbrook, Hamweddel, Breiholz, Tackesdorf, Dörphof, Winnemark, Klein Wittensee, Fleckeby, Güby, Ascheffel, Borgstedt, Hamdorf, Haby, Altenhof, Westerrönfeld, Holzbunge, Holtsee, Thumby, Strande, Neudorf-Bornstein, Windeby, Norby, Schönhorst, Nortorf, Meezen, Fockbek, Karby, Seefeld, Bendorf, Schacht-Audorf, Schülp Bei Rendsburg, Schwedeneck, Schlei-Ostsee, Eiderkanal, Hohner Harde, Gettorf, Aukrug, Brügge, Groß Vollstedt, Steenfeld, Gammelby, Noer, Achterwehr, Schierensee, Emkendorf, Felde, Krummwisch, Borgdorf-Seedorf, Schülldorf, Langwedel, Rodenbek, Westensee, Barkelsby, Dänischenhagen, Nübbel, Rickert, Gokels, Lindau, Dätgen, Hohn, Osterby, Neu Duvenstedt, Loose, Damendorf, Hoffeld, Eisendorf, Lütjenwestedt, Melsdorf

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