Schleswig-Holstein picture series

My first time to Schleswig-Holstein was during my 3rd trip to Europe and Germany in Sept 1977. Looking back I should have gone there in 1971 on the first trip when I had more time.

It was in 1977 that I saw Kiel, stayed in the DJH hostel , Laboe as that singular day plus Eutin/Holstein specifically to see the House/ Museum of the composer Carl Maria von Weber, that representative of German Romanticism in North Germany and Beethoven's contemporary.

Not until 2016 did I get back to this region , ie new towns of Schleswig and Flensburg plus seeing more of Eutin, its Schloss and church. Seeing Flensburg and especially Schleswig , I thought these were places I should have visited in the 1970s. and 1980s.

Bottom line: Except for Kiel the state of Schleswig-Holstein is absolutely worth one's energy and time in visiting, places totally off the international and American tourist radar.

Hey, Mark.

For the first time in many years, I returned to Hamburg in the summer of 2024 as a jump point into Schleswig-Holstein. In past visits, I'd already covered the city's Kontorhausviertel, the Speicherstadt including Miniature Wonderland (of course), Alter Elbtunnel, and BallinStadt. This time, I. needed to see a number of art works in the Hamburger Kunsthalle, I wanted to explore one of Europe's largest cemeteries in HH-Ohlsdorf, and I ate many Fischbrötchen, including a morning stop at the Altonaer Fischmarkt. I really do like Räucheraal (smoked eel).

From Hamburg's Landungsbrücken, I took the speedy Helgoline catamaran to Heigoland; I splurged for a higher-class fare which for me was worth the extra cost. I stayed in Helgoland for a couple of nights, but I could've stayed a week for the isolation, the relative quiet after all the daytrippers leave the island, and the birds. So, many, birds (during breeding season). I included a daytrip across to the neighbouring compact islet of Düne: the sunning seals, that tiny airfield, the quiet beaches. In all, my concluding thought was I must return to Helgoland.

I spent three nights in the city of Schleswig, but because of "Erkältung", I skipped a day and didn't go out to Kappeln as planned. Instead I stayed "close" and walked out to Holm, which was very pretty bathed in summer light. But I really wanted to see Haithabu (Heddeby), and I spent a full sunny afternoon exploring the world heritage site between the museum and the Viking houses nearby.

I'd like to return to Schleswig to see more of the town, head out to the mouth of the Schlei, and complete the other "half" of the world heritage site with a visit to the earthworks at Dannewerk. In my research notes, I'd like to visit Kiel and Flensburg, and I should, I really should visit the islands in the Nordfriesisch Wattenmeer. Sylt seems "too obvious", but I am curious about Amrum and Föhr.

It's also been over 10 years since I last stepped within Lübeck. It's been too long, and I should also go back and reacquaint myself with the joys of marzipan, Mann, and the Malerwinkel.

YES!

I live in Hamburg, but right on the line to Schleswig-Holstein (literally--our dog walk route includes both states and our grocery store is in S-H). The clubs I am in are all in S-H, and our search and rescue team's training schedule means we get around a fair bit! Also, I am currently on a little getaway vacation at Timmendorfer Strand / Scharbeutz, a pair of Baltic beach towns near Lübeck.

The picture they included of my beloved Glückstadt doesn't begin to do it justice, and it is my absolute favourite place in S-H.

We love taking our horses to St. Peter-Ording for a beach gallop. If you know how to ride there are stables with beach rides for visitors.

Ratzeburg should have been included in this series--absolutely love it there. So should Wedel, which is the first suburb to Hamburg's west (and still on the S-Bahn line), which is absolutely adorable. It has a fantastic Roland statue. Just beyond Wedel are the sand dunes of Holm, a great place for geology and a picnic--a stunning and fascinating forest and sand dunes landscape.

There is a little "village" (generous term) called Neufeld that is absolutely stunning, and the seal station at Friedrichskoog is worth a visit. Sea breezes, dike walks, wind-in-the reeds feel with birds--so many birds. Stop in Wilster on the way back to civilisation for another cute town.

The caves (including a bat tour) in Bad Segeberg are well worth the visit. And as the recommendation said, Schleswig and nearby Haithabu are top places to go if you like history. And naturally the islands are must-sees. That means Sylt or a ferry to Föhr or Amrum, the Halligen, and of course Helgoland (and yes, spring for a few days there if you can rather than just the day trip). The Halligen in particular are unique, and the red cliffs of Helgoland are great for bird watchers. The history tour there is also great!

Visitors should know that up here, our population is thin and our verbosity equally so. We are all about sheep grazing on dikes, breeding world class horses, listening to the gulls, and having our curls straightened by the wind (what most people would call windy we consider a nice breeze). We eat Matjes and Krabben, speak Platt, and make everything out of brick. We have major waterways and small lakes, marshes and reed roofs and bikes and lighthouses and beaches.

It's absolutely stunning and definitely overlooked. But if you want to imagine what life in Europe has been like for centuries, look no further.