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Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Make the most of your time in Schleswig-Holstein, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Germany’s northernmost state offers something for everyone; there are beaches, the sea, music festivals, forests, vast countryside, a national park, museums, industries and historic cities. It is a land of much cultural diversity, with no fewer than five languages spoken and two national minorities inhabiting the land, while it is also home to a number of islands including Helgoland which is off from the mainland to the west and has impressive red rock cliffs.

Schleswig-Holstein juts out to the north of Germany and joins up with Denmark, marking the northern border of the country. To its west is the North Sea and to its east is the Baltic Sea, while to its south it borders German states Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and city state Hamburg. It features no fewer than 1,190 kilometres of coastline along which are islands such as Amrum, Föhr and Sylt. The region’s capital city is Kiel, while its second city is the former hanseatic capital of Lübeck with its striking UNESCO World Heritage site centre.

The state features some 9,000 square metres of nature protection areas. Significantly, it contains one of Germany’s 13 national parks – the Wadden Sea National Park, which is home to the densest bird population in Central Europe, seals and the Multimar Wattforum with its aquarium, whale house and exhibitions. Other natural areas in the state include the Eider, Treene and Schwentine rivers which prove particularly popular among canoeists and other water sport lovers. In addition, there is a whole host of cycling routes which are spread throughout the area and sand-yachting proves a popular activity on beaches such as the St Peter Ording beach.

The capital city of Kiel has a large port and a particularly busy canal which works its way through to the city. Furthering the capital’s water-focused reputation, the city hosts the annual Kiel Week Regatta in June which sees some 600,000 competitors take part and no fewer than three million visitors descend on the area. There are several other festivals and events which take place throughout the year; including the Nordic Film Festival in Lübeck, the JazzBaltica in Salzau and the popular Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

Perhaps a little unsurprisingly, a number of the Danish have made a home in the country which borders their land. Further, there is another minority known as the Frisians which resides in the Netherlands and the western part of the state. Other prominent nationalities in the region include Turkish and Polish.

Schleswig-Holstein culture helps to shape its regional cuisine; in the winter a popular dish sees curly kale brought together with caramelised potatoes, boiled sausage and pork chop. The region is home to Europe’s largest section of cabbage-growing land and so the presence of kale in one of its popular dishes is explained. Also celebrating the region’s culture there are some 260 museums which between them welcome approximately three million visitors each year. Other highlights include the moated castle at Glücksburg and the picturesque town of Friedrichstadt known as ‘Little Amsterdam’.
 

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