Discover Schilksee: Sailing History, Art and Coastline

Schilksee brings together coastal scenery, sailing history and art to create a varied travel experience. This is particularly evident at the Olympic Centre, whose origins are linked to the sailing events of the 1972 Olympic Games in Kiel, at the beach and its protected status, and in striking works of art. This means your trip planning need not be limited to a single theme. You can decide whether sailing, the landscape or culture should take centre stage during your stay, and factor these priorities into your choice of accommodation and how you plan your days.

Olympic Sailing History and Art

The foundation stone for the Olympic Centre in Schilksee was laid in 1969 in connection with the sailing events of the 1972 Olympic Games in Kiel. The Olympic Centre is an official national training centre of the German Sailing Association (DSV). This places a clearly dated Olympic history alongside an institutional role in the sport of sailing. If you are interested in sailing, you can understand the site both through its historical origins and its present-day place in organised sailing.

Art in Schilksee takes different forms. On the beach promenade, the clock tower by Alwin Blaue stands on a roughly four-metre-high pillar made of roughly hewn granite blocks. Various maritime animal motifs are carved into the granite; above them sits a cuboid containing clocks. The combination of rough stone, maritime motifs and clocks makes the tower a striking work. The sculpture park in the grounds of Gut Seekamp offers another form of sculpture: works by sculptor Hans Kock can be viewed there. At the clock tower, the focus is on a single structure with carved motifs; at Gut Seekamp, works by one sculptor are presented in a sculpture park setting. If you plan cultural stops, these places offer different points of interest.

Beach, Landscape and Places to Visit

Schilksee beach and its surroundings are part of the “Zwischen Heischer Tal und Schilkseer Steilküste” landscape conservation area. The area’s name refers to other landscape features and helps place the beach in the context of its surroundings. This is useful for orienting yourself if you want to explore Schilksee not only through sailing, but also through its protected landscape. One route in Schilksee is about three kilometres long and includes five stops. Its length and number of stops give you a concrete sense of scale for planning your trip. You can take the route into account as a separate item when considering how different interests might fit into your stay.

Plan Events and Getting There

Kiel Week is also connected with the Olympic Centre: its event site is located at the Olympic Centre in Kiel-Schilksee. The layout of the event site may change from one edition to another. So check the information for the relevant edition before your visit.

For your journey, it is important to distinguish between the destinations: the Olympic Centre in Schilksee is currently served by bus routes 12, 13 and X30. The Sailing Centre can be reached from Kiel Central Station on bus routes 30S, 501 and 502. Check the timetable for your travel date, as bus services may change. If you are planning your accommodation and journey together, use your specific destination—the Olympic Centre or the Sailing Centre—as your reference, rather than just the shared theme of sailing.

If you are travelling with children or in a group, different interests may shape your plans: some may be drawn to sailing and Olympic history, while others may prefer art or the landscape. This lets you tailor your plans to the interests of your fellow travellers.

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