Gudow: St. Mary’s Church and the woodland- and lake-rich landscape

Gudow lies amid the woodland- and lake-rich landscape of the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park. A notable local landmark is St. Mary’s Church: its construction tells a story stretching back many centuries, while the landscape opens up views of the natural surroundings of the wider destination.

St. Mary’s: a medieval rural church

St. Mary’s Church in Gudow is a Romanesque, flat-ceilinged hall church built of fieldstone. It dates from the late 12th to the early 13th century. It is considered the oldest rural stone church building in Lauenburg and has preserved much of its original character. Its architectural form alone makes it a special point of interest for anyone curious about the history and architecture of the town: Romanesque refers to an early medieval architectural style, while fieldstone is the building material used for the masonry.

Woodland and water in the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg

Beyond Gudow, the Duchy of Lauenburg is also characterised by woodland and water. Forests cover 26 percent of the Duchy of Lauenburg district, which is home to 48 lakes. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. Around 20 signposted cycling and hiking routes pass through lakes, forests, moors, rivers and canals; there are also themed routes and guided nature and cultural excursions.

The nature park covers an area of around 35 by 17 kilometres and provides habitats for kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes, among other species. You can watch waterbirds from the observation tower at Lake Mechow; with a little luck, you might also spot a white-tailed eagle. Lake Schaalsee, in the eastern part of the duchy, is the deepest clear-water lake in northern Germany; its deepest point lies 72 metres below the surface.

Get active or take time to observe nature

In the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park, you can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in forest lakes. Hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and places to rest round out the offerings. The nature park was established in 1960 as a protected area for visitors to explore. On guided excursions, experts offer insights into the local flora and fauna and the district’s cultural history; be sure to check the latest dates in advance.

Those planning longer excursions will find more routes with a range of themes in the Duchy of Lauenburg. The long-distance hiking trails E1, E6 and E9 run north to south through the duchy, via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. The Old Salt Route long-distance cycle path runs from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal. A canoe tour can take you from Lake Schaalsee via the lakes of Lauenburg and the River Wakenitz to Lübeck.

Culture and discoveries in the Duchy of Lauenburg

The region’s cultural attractions cover a wide range of subjects. The Elbe Shipping Museum in Lauenburg/Elbe features the interactive, three-storey exhibition “Human-Model-Machine” about shipping. Visitors can get hands-on with models and experiment stations. The Duchy of Lauenburg District Museum in Ratzeburg focuses on the history of the Dukes of Lauenburg and the inner German border.

The Culture Summer by the Canal is a four-week cultural festival held every summer along the canal. If you are choosing when to visit, it is worth checking that year’s programme. Those wishing to combine nature and culture in an educational experience can also visit the Uhlenkolk Environmental Centre in Mölln, in the wider Duchy of Lauenburg. Its educational and nature-experience programme is aimed at kindergartens, school classes, families and adults; check the current programme in advance.

Regional treats

You can also discover the region through its local food. Farm and country cafés in the Duchy of Lauenburg are known for homemade cakes made with regional products. The Lakes Cycle Tour connects farm cafés in Mustin, Kittlitz, Dargow and Salem, where you can stop for a slice of cake. At the Labenzer Stolz coffee roastery, coffee is roasted using the traditional, aroma-preserving slow drum-roasting method.

Choose the right accommodation for your trip

If you are looking for accommodation in Gudow, first consider whether you want to focus on the church and the landscape around the town, or whether you would also like to plan activities in other places in the Duchy of Lauenburg. Regional options range from nature trails and canoe tours to museums and cultural events. When planning, take note of the locations, as well as current timetables and event dates, so that your stay matches the discoveries that interest you most.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wentorf bei Hamburg, Schönberg, Siebenbäumen, Schulendorf, Mölln, Möhnsen, Kittlitz, Lankau.

View the wider travel guide: Duchy of Lauenburg.