Bordesholm: Monastery Church and Monastery Island

A stay in Bordesholm can be planned around two historical themes: the monastery church on Lindenplatz and the history of the monastery island. The monastery church is Bordesholm’s oldest surviving listed monument. Its construction spanned the years 1230 to 1510—a period of almost three centuries.

The Monastery Church: Construction and Interior

Inside the church is a late Gothic bronze tomb monument for Anna of Brandenburg and Frederick I of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. While the years 1230 to 1510 span the church’s construction period, the tomb monument draws attention to a single work inside. A visit thus brings together the history of the building and a specific detail of its furnishings.

You can visit the monastery church and its vaulted cellar. Unless another event is taking place, the church is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are available for groups and school classes. Before your visit, check whether these opening hours apply on your chosen day.

The History of the Monastery Island

In 1330, the former collegiate foundation moved to an island in Lake Bordesholm. Three dams connected the island to the mainland before the church and monastery buildings were constructed. The year 1330 marks the foundation’s move; the dams relate to a different point in time: they provided a connection to the mainland before the buildings were constructed. The history of the monastery island thus encompasses both the foundation’s relocation and the site’s architectural development.

Regional Perspectives in the Broader Rendsburg-Eckernförde Destination

In the broader Rendsburg-Eckernförde destination, the perspective extends beyond Bordesholm’s cultural theme. Rendsburg-Eckernförde district has a signposted cycling network spanning 1,000 kilometres, and four nature parks are located in the district. Complementing the cycling network is the 180-kilometre Nature Park Hiking Trail, which passes through these four nature parks. This distinguishes two different scales of routes: a marked network for cycling and a named hiking trail with its own total length. The European long-distance path E1 is marked continuously with a white St Andrew’s cross and runs through the Hüttener Berge, the Brekendorf Forest and over the Aschberg. In fine weather, the 98-metre-high Aschberg offers panoramic views as far as the Kiel Canal, Eckernförde Bay and the state capital, Kiel.

The natural features also relate to Rendsburg-Eckernförde district. The nature parks consist to a large extent of nature and landscape conservation areas and provide habitats for diverse flora and fauna. Westensee-Obere Eider Nature Park is characterised by numerous lake complexes in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands. It includes Lake Westensee, which covers around 7 km² and is a popular destination for day trips; the banks of the Eider in this nature park provide a habitat for kingfishers. The district also has 55 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. Thus, the district-wide landscape and nature themes provide a regional framework of their own alongside the historical themes of the monastery church and monastery island.

Discover more destinations: Borgstedt, Schönhorst, Hoffeld, Schlei-Ostsee, Nübbel, Eiderkanal, Haale, Norby.

Go to the main travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.