Discover Steinburg

Steinburg combines cycling tours with a wide range of cultural and scenic interests. When choosing where to stay, you can plan around whether you want to focus on a cycling tour, museums and history, an event, or several of these interests. Wacken, Glückstadt, Itzehoe, Brokdorf, Kellinghusen, the Wilstermarsch, Rumfleth and Breitenburg each have their own distinctive appeal.

Cycling: long-distance route or castle tour

The Elbe Cycle Route is one of five long-distance cycling routes that pass through the Steinburg district region. The 15-kilometre Castle Tour offers a clearly defined ride: it is rated easy, takes one hour and runs past Breitenburg Castle, after which it is named. The castle is considered the historic heart of the Stör landscape and has shaped the region for centuries. The tour thus combines a manageable time commitment with a historical connection. Check current route conditions before setting out.

Landscape and a special place in the Wilstermarsch

The varied landscape of the Steinburg district stretches from the Elbe to the Holstein Auenland. The Wilstermarsch, one of Schleswig-Holstein’s oldest landscapes, is home to the lowest point in the Federal Republic of Germany: it lies 3.54 metres below sea level. At the lowest point, there is a free parking and rest area with an information board—a specific place to stop if you want to explore these geographical features.

Museums and architectural history

Glückstadt offers a range of cultural perspectives. The Detlefsen Museum provides a comprehensive picture of the city and the Holstein Elbe marshes, past and present. Glückstadt’s town church was built as the first Protestant church in the duchies of Holstein and Schleswig. The Palais für aktuelle Kunst presents contemporary art in a Renaissance setting. History, church architecture and contemporary art are represented here as distinct themes.

In Itzehoe, the Kreismuseum Prinzeßhof is housed in the city’s oldest secular building. It presents the history and cultural history of the Steinburg district in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Wenzel Hablik Museum displays the artist’s estate, including paintings, drawings, designs for utopian space settlements, furniture and textiles, as well as collections of shell and metal figures. While the Prinzeßhof focuses on regional history, the Hablik collection also features unusual designs and objects. In Kellinghusen, the Museum Betont offers concert events on historical instruments as well as workshops devoted to individual instruments. Check the current programme before your trip.

Events, seasonal offerings and mill culture

Wacken Open Air takes place annually at the festival site in Wacken and is one of the largest heavy metal festivals in the world. As dates and ticket details change every year, check them for your planned visit. The Steinburg Wild Weeks offer a different seasonal highlight, running from mid-September to the end of October: chefs from Steinburg prepare traditional and inventive dishes featuring hare, roe deer, wild boar or wild duck. Check current dates and participating businesses in advance.

The Elbe Ice Stadium in Brokdorf also offers a variety of activities: ice skating, ice hockey, curling, ice discos and children’s birthday parties. As this information is seasonal, check the current operating season before visiting. In Rumfleth, the present-day mill combines architectural history with an offering for groups who book in advance. Dating from 1872, it was built as a single-storey gallery Dutch windmill with a fantail and louvred sails. The mill is still fully operational and has been listed since 1981. Groups who book in advance can enjoy coffee and cake in the granary, which can accommodate groups of 10 to 40 people. Smaller groups of up to 20 people can also be served inside the windmill. Make arrangements for your visit and refreshments in advance.

Discover more destinations: Wilster, Kellinghusen, Nortorf, Engelbrechtsche Wildnis, Moorhusen, Stördorf, Hennstedt, Itzehoe, Wacken, Wrist, Dägeling, Holstenniendorf, Horst, Wewelsfleth, Puls, Glückstadt, Elskop, Horst-Herzhorn, Willenscharen, Wulfsmoor, Altenmoor, Kollmar, Hohenlockstedt, Kaaks, Krempermoor, Hodorf, Breitenburg, Heiligenstedten, Krempe, Borsfleth, Sarlhusen, Sankt Margarethen, Hohenaspe, Rethwisch, Lägerdorf, Poyenberg, Brokdorf, Bokelrehm, Neuendorf-Sachsenbande

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.