Stormarn: Castles, Manor Houses and Moorland Landscapes

Stormarn brings together several reasons to visit: castles and manor estates, waterside paths, and woodland and moorland landscapes. The district is in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region between Hamburg and Lübeck and is well suited to day trips. When planning a stay, it is worth first considering whether you want to devote most of your time to cultural history, nature experiences or outdoor activities.

Castles, Manor Estates and Cultural History

Numerous castles, manor estates and manor houses are part of Stormarn’s cultural landscape. Ahrensburg Castle was completed in 1585 and has served continuously as a museum since 1955. In Reinbek stands Reinbek Castle, a building in the Dutch Renaissance style: it was constructed between 1572 and 1576, extensively restored and now serves as a cultural and communications centre. The history of Jersbek Estate dates back to the 16th century; it has been farmed ever since. Its 18th-century Baroque garden is open to visitors. These examples show that Stormarn’s cultural heritage is not limited to castles: a working estate and an open Baroque garden are part of it too.

At Herrenteich: History and Walking Routes

Herrenteich in Reinfeld dates back to the 12th century: Cistercian monks created it as an artificial reservoir on the Heilsau for fish farming. The lakeside promenade has two water terraces and other seating areas. A 3.6-kilometre circular path runs around the lower Herrenteich. The “Around Herrenteich” nature trail is a separate route: it is four kilometres long, follows a circular route directly along the edge of the “Upper Herrenteich” nature reserve, and has 16 stops. The different lengths and routes make it easy to plan the lakeside promenade and the nature trail as two separate excursion options.

Moors, Woodland and Fruit Trails

Stormarn’s largest nature reserve, Hahnheide, offers extensive opportunities for hiking. Brenner Moor is Schleswig-Holstein’s largest inland salt marsh; it has a section on a wooden boardwalk and a trail with ten observation points. The fruit and tree trail starts at the old Blumendorf railway station near Bad Oldesloe. More than 160 tall-stem fruit trees grow along the route, including apples, pears, cherries and plums. Depending on the season, you can sample different varieties along the way. The district therefore offers a range of nature experiences: extended hikes, observation points in the moor and a fruit trail with seasonal tastings.

Cycling Routes and Paddling

Stormarn offers more than 20 circular cycling routes as well as BahnRadWege (railway cycle paths) on disused railway lines. The BahnRadWege follow the routes of three former railway lines through Stormarn’s landscapes. The network of circular cycling routes includes two church routes, as well as the Carp and Lime routes. On BahnRadWeg B, the “Mail Train Robbery on the State Railway Line” crime trail combines a bike ride with puzzles and a fictional historical investigation into a mail train robbery. For paddling trips, the Trave in the north and the Bille in the south are inviting options—with family, friends or colleagues.

Choose Your Hotel Location Based on Your Itinerary

If you are looking for a hotel in Stormarn, first decide what you want to focus on: cultural history, nature trails, or cycling and water tours. This way, you can take your planned excursions directly into account when choosing where to stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Heilshoop, Grabau, Ahrensburg, Reinbek, Siek, Tremsbüttel, Reinfeld, Bad Oldesloe, Großhansdorf, Barsbüttel, Delingsdorf, Travenbrück, Jersbek, Hammoor, Stapelfeld, Hoisdorf, Hamfelde, Hamberge, Ammersbek, Witzhave, Trittau, Tangstedt, Rausdorf, Oststeinbek, Mönkhagen, Lütjensee, Köthel, Grönwohld, Klein Wesenberg, Badendorf, Bargteheide, Brunsbek, Großensee, Bargfeld-Stegen, Lasbek, Nienwohld, Glinde, Todendorf.

For the overarching travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.