Schleswig-Holstein and the sea: seven travel destinations make us dream

Schleswig-Holstein is a destination for romantics. Where else does the sun rise over one sea to sink into another glowing red in the evening?

In Holstein Switzerland, a 500-year-old oak acts as an ambassador of love. Seven travel tips for lovers in the north of Germany:

1. Alone for two: experience beach sleeping basket

When it is actually time to roll up the beach mat, shake out towels and head home, the beaches usually get particularly nice. So why not just stay?

The northern lights have come up with something charming for this: beach beds that guests can now rent on the North and Baltic Sea beaches. One of them is in Kronsgaard, a particularly quiet coastal region north of the slime estuary. It is a bit adventurous, but the courage is rewarded: falling asleep to the sound of the sea, looking at the starry sky.

When the sun finally rises from the Baltic Sea on the horizon, it is worth taking a long walk in the direction of Falshöft, marked by its red and white ringed lighthouse. On the natural coast it is still as quiet as a mouse – except for the calming sloshing of the Baltic Sea surf. Music in the ears.

2. Ostseebad Heiligenhafen: Say yes romantically

A neat little town in Ostholstein is enjoying ever greater popularity: Heiligenhafen. The special thing about the dreamy old town is a headland, which is surrounded by an inland lake, a marina and an open natural beach. One of the most beautiful spots is Graswarder, a nature reserve in the eastern part of the peninsula.

The historic, thatched beach houses between the beach wall and the salt marsh biotopes behind are the number one photo motif. And due to their special location, they are among the most expensive properties in Schleswig-Holstein. Back at the zigzag-shaped adventure pier, couples can soak up the Baltic sun and fresh sea air on wide, curved wooden loungers.

The sheltered sea lounge was invented for bad weather. Here lovers can even say yes.

3. Lübeck’s rustic beauty: the fishing village of Gothmund

The dreamy fishing village of Gothmund is hidden behind a slope and can only be reached via a narrow footpath. It is unknown even to many Schleswig-Holsteiners. 21 fishermen’s houses, half of which are thatched, are part of this enchanted, around 500-year-old place right on the Trave. A handful of active fishermen still live here today, such as Thomas Kaitschick, who has been an independent fisherman in the umpteenth generation since 1986.

In the summer months, Gothmunder fishes in the Trave – and sells eel, pikeperch and perch directly to end customers. There are no places to stop for refreshments in this village, but a walk along the fisherman’s path along bobbing fishing boats and maritime decorated front gardens could hardly be more idyllic.

4. The bridegroom’s oak: love mailbox near the Plöner See

Because the strict father, chief forester at Eutin, Fräulein Orth forbade contact with her beloved Leipzig chocolate manufacturer, the lovers came up with something clever: From then on, they communicated via an oak tree in the Dodauer Forest and left each other love messages there – with a happy ending. The father gave in and finally agreed to the marriage.

In the summer of 1891, the couple got married under this, now 500-year-old oak, which soon got around as the bridegroom’s oak. It has had its own postal address since 1927, and the local postman delivers to the mailbox at a dizzy height with messages and partner requests from all over the world.

Every visitor can read them, take them away and answer them. The confidentiality of letters does not apply here. It is said that over 100 marriages have already been mediated through this oak. Address: Bridegroom Oak, Dodauer Forst, 23701 Eutin. Once here, a beautiful circular path leads through the forest. And the excursion boat is also waiting nearby on the Großer Plöner See.

5. Friedrichstadt: boat tour to the northern Mesopotamia

You can feel the whole city that the Dutch were at work here. With its canals, bridges and gabled houses in the Dutch Renaissance style, the North Frisian Friedrichstadt looks like Amsterdam in miniature.

It is also wrapped in water. Instead of the Euphrates and Tigris, Schleswig-Holstein’s longest river and its tributary, the Eider and Treene, flow here. This makes Friedrichstadt the perfect starting point for a joint canoe tour on the wild and romantic waters. Alternatively, it is also possible to rent stand-up paddles, pedal boats or e-boats.

6. There is a horizon everywhere: time out on Hallig Gröde

North Sea romance paired with Robinson feeling awaits holidaymakers in the world of the North Frisian Halligen. Hallig Gröde is one of the ten tiny islands that protect the mainland coast like breakwaters. Year after year they are overwhelmed by the tide during the stormy winter months. Because sightseeing in Gröde is done very quickly – four residential buildings, an empty school building and the St. Margarethenkirche and cemetery, spread over the two terps – there is plenty of time for togetherness.

Holidaymakers who have managed to get hold of a holiday apartment can stroll across salt marshes, jump over creeks and, in summer, enjoy the purple flowering Hallig lilac. The tide determines the activities: bathing time at high tide, mudflat hiking at low tide.

7. Along the wild Baltic Sea coast: Hike along the Fördesteig

Wonderful views, fresh sea air and sand in your shoe are guaranteed on the Fördesteig. And one more thing is pretty certain: rest. Those who hike on the 95-kilometer hiking route from the Flensburg Hafenspitze to Kappeln an der Schlei have nature in the quietest section of the Baltic Sea in Schleswig-Holstein almost to themselves. The path leads through dreamy nature reserves such as Holnis or the Geltinger Birk, through stream valleys and forests and partly runs directly on the beach or on cliffs.

The Fördesteig was developed by the Naturschutzbund Deutschland. In a practical hiking guide, the sections of the route are not only well explained, you also get all kinds of information about the history, fauna and flora of the region. Tip: The hike can be combined with an overnight stay in a beach chair.

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