Things to See in Kiel

The Kiel Fjord, a narrow, 17-kilometre-long inlet of the Baltic Sea that flows into Kiel Bay, is worth seeing for its natural beauty alone. The steep bank at Friedrichsort, at the narrowest point of the fjord, is particularly picturesque. The remains of the historic Friedrichsort Fortress, built by the Danes during the Thirty Years’ War and largely destroyed in the Second World War, are to be prepared for future visits.

The Kiel Fjord is where the Kiel Canal, the world’s busiest artificial waterway, ends in the west; to the south, the Schwentine River flows into it from the Holstein Switzerland region. The district of Schilksee developed into a watersports centre and hosted the Olympic sailing events in 1972.
Its name evocative of a convoy of ships, the “Kiellinie” is a popular waterfront promenade.
The Hörn Bridge offers a unique technical design: a three-part bascule bridge providing access to the Norway Quay.

Holstenstraße, Germany’s second-oldest pedestrian zone, connects the Old Market in the historic city centre with the main railway station. Especially during Kiel Week, it is a hub for the event’s approximately three million visitors. Kiel Week is the world’s largest sailing event and, at the same time, Northern Europe’s largest folk festival. First held in 1882, the event has been known as “Kiel Week” since 1894, when the Kaiser took part. Every year, the last full week of June brings together around 2,000 sailboats competing in various regattas. The highlight is the tall ships parade.

Built in 1952 and subsequently expanded, the Ostseehalle Kiel, with a capacity of 13,000, is not only one of Germany’s largest event venues but also the home court of THW Kiel, arguably the world’s best handball team.

Photo: Michael Henry/pixelio.de