Bad Schwartau: Hotels and accommodations

Bad Schwartau is located in the Bay of Lübeck in southern Schleswig-Holstein. Kurparksee lake lies at the center of the spa park; the Philosophenweg borders the park toward the Mönchkamp forest. In the adjoining Riesebusch meadows lie the old Schwartau River and a mosaic of near-natural landscape types, with paths for walking and observation.

Nature

The Schwartau lowlands and the adjoining beech forests offer a wide range of nature experiences. Most of the Schwartau Valley is part of the Natura 2000 network. The recreational landscape of the Schwartau Valley includes wet meadows, willow scrub, alder forest, and flowing and still waters.

The 2.5-kilometer Schwartau Valley nature trail features information and interactive stations, including the Green Classroom, designed as an intergenerational place of learning about the local flora and fauna, as well as a boardwalk, a picture book, and a tree telephone. The Schwartau nature experience area also includes information boards, tree-ring models, a bee wall, nesting boxes, and information about different biotope types.

Bad Schwartau’s parks, near-natural meadows and fields, level walking paths, and Pariner Berg are considered places for walking and exploring. The protected areas around Bad Schwartau are known for botanical and zoological rarities; early morning is particularly recommended for observing the birdlife. Bicycle rental can be combined with cycling routes through forests to the Baltic Sea coast and the Holstein Switzerland region. The miniature golf course in the spa park offers children an outdoor activity.

Culture

The Georg Chapel, also known as St. George’s Leper Chapel, is associated with a leprosarium dating from 1258; a chapel was added in 1289. Today, it is used for services and small concerts. The High Gothic brick building has three pointed-arch windows on each side and a pitched roof.

The former courthouse on Bad Schwartau’s market square is a listed building constructed in 1909/1910 in the Neo-Renaissance style. The Pythagoraeder is an approximately 3.5-meter-high artwork made of polished stainless steel in the spa park.

History

Schwartau was officially recognized as a spa town in 1913 and has borne the name Bad Schwartau ever since. The history of the Schwartauer Werke company in Bad Schwartau began in 1899. Because of the Schwartauer Werke, Bad Schwartau is associated with the nickname “City of Jam.”

Geographical location

Several direct bus routes run from Lübeck’s central bus station to Bad Schwartau.

More local pages: Neustadt / Holstein, Altenkrempe, Kellenhusen, Großenbrode, Grube, Schönwalde Am Bungsberg, Sierksdorf, Weißenhäuser Strand.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ostholstein.