Westensee: Lake, Trails and Village History
Accommodation in Westensee
Westensee combines lakeside scenery, nature trails and a protected historic village center. When planning a stay, it is worth considering these aspects separately: the lake is the focus for lakeside activities and route options, while St. Catharinen is a distinct focal point of local history.
Lake, Trails and Nature Conservation
The approximately 700-hectare Westensee can be circled on the Westensee Tour, which passes through wooded and open landscapes. A shorter lakeside option is about 21 kilometers long. The lake is part of the European Natura 2000 network of protected areas; its eastern section and the Eider inflow are also designated as bird and nature reserves.
At the lakeshore, you can swim, go boating, canoe and fish. There is a barbecue area by the bathing area, which can be reserved. The Westensee inn on the lakeshore offers a place to eat with a view of the lake. Before your visit, check visitor facilities and access rules if you plan to include these options in your itinerary.
The lakeside parking lot is a convenient starting point if you want to cycle around the Eiderring Canal and Westensee or walk to the TĂĽteberg viewpoint.
The wider Rendsburg-Eckernförde area
The wider travel destination of Rendsburg-Eckernförde offers more than local trails. The district has a 1,000-kilometer signposted cycling network and is also home to four nature parks. The 180-kilometer Nature Park Hiking Trail passes through all four. A substantial part of these parks consists of nature reserves and protected landscapes, providing habitats for a wide variety of animal and plant species. The Westensee-Obere Eider Nature Park is characterized by numerous lake complexes in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands; the banks of the Eider are home to kingfishers. The wider region also includes 55 kilometers of Baltic Sea coastline. In fine weather, the panoramic view from 98-meter-high Aschberg extends to the Kiel Canal, Eckernförde Bay and the state capital, Kiel. The European long-distance path E1 also runs through the Hüttener Berge, Brekendorf Forest and over Aschberg; it is marked throughout with a white St. Andrew’s cross.
St. Catharinen and the Historic Village Center
Westensee’s historic village center is protected as a historic monument and is dominated by the medieval St. Catharinen Church, dating from the 13th century. Church tours are available by prior arrangement.
St. Catharinen was founded as a branch of Neumünster Monastery. The fieldstone nave dates from the 13th century; around 1300, a Gothic brick choir was added to the church. The nave is the church’s main space, laid out lengthwise, while the choir is a separate adjoining section. The surviving historic features include works of art and the tomb of the Danish military commander Daniel Rantzau.
Discover More Destinations
Bordesholm, Windeby, Hamdorf, Schülldorf, Meezen, Kronshagen, Waabs, Osterrönfeld
Go to the wider travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.
