Schleswig

The historic Duchy of Schleswig has always served as a link between Denmark and Germany. The remains of the former Viking settlement of Haithabu, near the town of Schleswig, still bear witness to Schleswig’s role as a link at the crossroads of Central and Northern Europe. For a long time, it was the principal town of the Schleswig region, but today the largest city is Flensburg.
The Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig (i.e. South Schleswig) stretches from the Flensburg Fjord in the north to the Eider River and the Kiel Canal in the south. With their natural beauty and water sports facilities, Flensburg Fjord, the Schlei, Eckernförde Bay and Kiel Fjord are the tourist highlights of this part of the Baltic coast. Flensburg Fjord also forms the border between Denmark and Germany and is, in effect, already part of the so-called “Danish South Sea”, a unique sailing and water sports area of mainland and islands.
Apart from these inlets, Schleswig’s outer coast has few indentations. It is home to Damp Baltic Sea Resort, one of the most important and forward-thinking Baltic Sea resorts, where a forerunner of what is now known as a “health holiday” was first developed in Germany.
The entire stretch of Baltic coast between Flensburg Fjord and Kiel Fjord is among the oldest-established and most popular holiday destinations on the Baltic Sea.

Brücke über die Schlei Photo: © Erich Westendarp / pixelio.de

Sights in Schleswig

Gelting to Maasholm

The coast of the Angeln peninsula between the Flensburg Fjord and the Schlei is shaped by the small seaside resorts of Gelting, Kronsgaard, Hasselberg and Maasholm.

Glücksburg

The Baltic Sea spa town of Glücksburg is situated on the Flensburg Inner Fjord, with sheltered sandy beaches and views across to the Danish coast. The town of Glücksburg has held the title of Baltic Sea spa since 1949, although bathing facilities were already operating there in the late 19th century.

Town of Schleswig

The town of Schleswig traces its origins to the old Viking settlement of Haithabu and, at 1,200 years old, is probably the oldest town in Schleswig-Holstein. Gottorf Castle on the western edge of the town was for many years the residence of the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf.

Flensburg

Maritime activities are top of the list for visitors to Flensburg. No fewer than 17 sailing clubs in Flensburg are dedicated to sailing and windsurfing.

Kappeln

With just under 10,000 residents, the town of Kappeln lies just before the mouth of the Schlei and enjoys one of the most beautiful natural settings on the western Baltic coast. Since the late 1980s, Kappeln and its idyllic surroundings have served as the filming location for the ZDF series “Der Landarzt,” under the name Deekelsen.

Damp

In 1973, a holiday resort was built under the name Damp 2000 at the time, close to the town of Damp itself. The Baltic seaside resort of Damp combines rehabilitation clinics with a holiday park.

Eckernförde

The Baltic Sea resort of Eckernförde, located at the end of Eckernförde Bay, has a history spanning more than 700 years and has been a seaside resort since the 1830s.