Schaalby: Churches, Watermill and Trails

Schaalby offers several distinct themes for your stay: architectural history, milling technology, river landscapes, hiking trails and birdwatching. The churches and watermill provide historical highlights; the Füsinger Au and Reesholm put the focus on landscape and nature. When choosing a hotel, consider which theme you want to shape your trip.

Churches with a long history

St. Mary’s Church in Kahleby stands between Füsing and Schaalby and is a prominent feature of the landscape. It was first mentioned in 1192. It was substantially enlarged in the 13th century and received its tower in 1855 as part of a renovation. These dates trace its development over several centuries rather than assigning the church to a single period of construction.

Inside is an organ built by Johann Daniel Busch in 1784 and extensively restored in 1989. Thus, alongside its architectural history, St. Mary’s offers a distinctive detail from the history of organs and craftsmanship. St. James’s Church in Moldenit is another historical highlight: it dates from the 12th century and stands on a hill surrounded by old lime trees. The two churches therefore differ both in their recorded dates and in their described settings within the landscape.

Schaalby Watermill

Schaalby Watermill dates from 1842. Its overshot waterwheel is just under five metres in diameter, and the mill has two sets of millstones. These details give a sense of the wheel’s size and the milling technology. A visit need not be limited to viewing the exterior: the mill is open to visitors. It is considered one of the few watermills still in operation. Since visiting arrangements can change, it is advisable to check the conditions in advance.

River landscapes and trails

Moldenit and Füsing border the Schlei. The Loiterau flows through the municipality of Schaalby and empties into the Schlei. North of Schleidörferstraße, the Füsinger Au flows slowly through a broad lowland peat landscape shaped primarily by extensive grassland use. A footpath runs parallel to the Füsinger Au through the lowland area. This makes the river and the open landscape described here distinct themes to consider when planning your trip.

The 24-kilometre Füsinger Au circular hiking trail starts in Kahleby. One route from St. Mary’s Church follows the Füsinger Au and the embankment of the former railway. A trail to the Winning settling ponds crosses the Füsinger Au near its mouth and then passes through a natural ash-beech forest. Schaalby also has a local hiking trail with standardised signs, themed information boards and an overview of the area. The route descriptions give different starting points and features; distance, starting point and signage may be important for your planning. Since routes and infrastructure may be updated locally, it is worth checking the latest information before setting out.

Birdwatching at Reesholm

Reesholm is important for its birdlife and provides breeding habitat as well as resting places. The species mentioned include yellow wagtails, lapwings, redshanks, shelducks, oystercatchers, reed buntings and reed warblers. Visitors can walk from the Winningmay car park to an observation platform. Access beyond the barrier is prohibited year-round. For birdwatching, the route to the platform is therefore the relevant one; the restriction applies in every season.

These different themes can help you plan your stay around your interests: the churches and mill offer architectural and technological history, while the trails along the Füsinger Au and the observation point at Reesholm provide other options for planning your days.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Böklund, Nübel, Klappholz, Neuberend, Taarstedt, Idstedt, Struxdorf, Süderfahrenstedt.

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