Discover Kittlitz: Nature, History and a Farm Café

Kittlitz brings together nature around Kittlitzer Hofsee, an archaeological monument on Lake Schaalsee and a farm café by the lake. If you are looking for a stay focused on scenery, history and a place to stop for refreshments, you will find a variety of themes here that are easy to explore.

Hofsee, wet meadows and cranes

The Kittlitzer Hofsee and Surroundings nature reserve lies to the west of Kittlitz. This landscape includes the lake, wet meadows and alder swamp forests along the Kittlitzer Bach stream. The adjacent Eichhorst also provides a habitat for wildlife, including cranes. Water, open spaces and wooded areas thus shape the nature themes to discover around Kittlitz.

The different landscape features are especially interesting if you are interested in habitats and their wildlife. This natural environment offers a distinct focus alongside the town’s historical and culinary attractions.

A trace of Slavic history

An archaeological monument can be found on Lake Schaalsee in Kittlitz. The remains are those of a small Slavic fortress, thought to date to around the 10th century. It was discovered in 1985.

For travel planning, this historical connection adds another perspective to the natural environment around Lake Schaalsee: alongside wet meadows and wildlife habitats, there is also evidence of early settlement. If you are equally interested in scenery and history, Kittlitz offers several different points of interest.

Farm café by Kittlitzer Hofsee

Dielencafé Kittlitz is a farm café by Kittlitzer Hofsee. Its offerings include homemade cakes and pastries, open sandwiches, savoury dishes, ice cream specialities, as well as breakfast and brunch. The menu may change seasonally. This means culinary interests can complement the nature and history themes, without a café stop needing to be the main reason for the entire trip.

The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg

Beyond Kittlitz, the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg offers further opportunities to explore landscapes and activities. Forests cover 26 percent of the district of the Duchy of Lauenburg; it is also home to 48 lakes. The district is also home to Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest in Schleswig-Holstein.

The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the Duchy of Lauenburg. The area is approximately 35 by 17 kilometres in size and provides habitats for, among other species, kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes. Hiking trails, observation towers, nature trails and rest areas offer different ways to explore the nature park. It has been designated as a protected area for visitors to enjoy since 1960. Activities available there include hiking, cycling and swimming in forest lakes; there are also four signposted cycling routes.

Long-distance trails also offer ways to explore the Duchy of Lauenburg: the E1, E6 and E9 long-distance hiking trails cross the region from north to south via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. Culture enthusiasts can join guided excursions with experts on topics in the district’s wildlife, plant life and cultural history; check the relevant dates in advance. In Lauenburg/Elbe, the Elbe Shipping Museum presents the interactive, three-storey “Mensch-Modell-Maschine” (“People-Model-Machine”) exhibition on shipping. Visitors can get hands-on with models and experimental stations.

Choose the right focus for your stay

If you would also like to explore nature and cultural attractions elsewhere in the Duchy of Lauenburg, first decide which ones matter most for your trip. You can then choose where to stay based on the experiences you want.

Discover more destinations: Lauenburg/Elbe, Geesthacht, Schönberg, Elmenhorst, Wohltorf, Hohenhorn, Berkenthin, Güster.

See the overview of the wider destination: Duchy of Lauenburg.