Windeby

Windeby combines archaeological evidence from several periods with paths along the Noor and nearby lakes. When planning, you can choose between a focus on cultural history and hiking or cycling tours. The historical themes range from a Neolithic burial monument and Bronze Age burial mounds to the Osterwall; for getting around, there are named circular routes with specified lengths and different surfaces.

Archaeological traces from different periods

The Windeby Child was discovered in 1952 near Schiefkoppel, an area that formerly belonged to Windeby. The find is identified as a 14-year-old child; the sex has not been determined with certainty. Windeby’s oldest archaeological monument is a megalithic long barrow from the Neolithic period, hidden in a small wooded area.

The Bronze Age is also present in the landscape: the burial mounds in Windeby are approximately 3,500 years old. Other burial grounds date from the Bronze, Iron and Viking Ages; the date of the ramparts is unknown. Herrenhaus Windeby and the surrounding estate buildings are also among the notable historic buildings.

The Old Military Road offers another point of reference in time. An approximately one-kilometre-long unpaved section runs through Windeby and Kochendorf. The Old Military Road is older than the Osterwall and led from the Slavic territories east of Kiel to the Ox Road. The Osterwall, in turn, runs through Kochendorf and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Archaeological Border Region of Danevirke and Hedeby.”

In Windeby’s landscape, only hedge-like remnants of the former Osterwall are visible. Information boards in Kochendorf introduce visitors to the Danevirke/Osterwall World Heritage Site. Around the Windebyer Noor, approximately 60 shell middens have also been recorded; they are considered unique in the north.

Noor, lakes and seasonal swimming opportunities

The Windebyer Noor is considered a large inland lake and was once connected to the Baltic Sea. At Schnaaper See, other visitor interests take centre stage: in summer, it is considered a swimming spot with very good water quality in a peaceful natural setting. Local lakes are also used for swimming and fishing.

The bodies of water serve as reference points for various tours, but the routes differ in length and course. The Gammelby hiking trail follows the historic Osterwall between Kochendorf and Windebyer Noor. An information board along the route provides historical background on the rampart. Check current trail conditions before hiking.

Compare hiking and cycling routes

A signposted circular hike around the Windebyer Noor is seven miles long; with a detour to Kochendorf, it is 8.3 miles. Parts of the Noor hiking trail follow a nature trail. Information along the route covers the Noor’s surroundings and a former railway. The route length with the detour and the fact that part of the trail is a nature trail offer two specific points of reference when choosing this hike.

For cycling, the NoorTörn is a clearly defined option: this 26.83-kilometre circular route starts and ends at the Windebyer Noor. It is considered an easy cycling tour and runs mostly on paved paths. Check current trail conditions before cycling.

Windeby’s hiking and cycling routes also include the Noor hiking trail, a route south of Kochendorf in the direction of Osterbek, and paths towards Westerthal, Friedland and the hinterland of Friedensthal. The named circular tours around the Noor differ considerably in their stated lengths and character; the route names offer further points of reference for your planning.

Discover more destinations: Grevenkrug, Loose, Nortorf, Damendorf, Schlei-Ostsee, Rendsburg, Fleckeby, Owschlag.

View the overarching travel guide: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.