Altenkrempe between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland

Altenkrempe lies between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland. Architectural history, a protected natural area and cultural offerings each provide a different focus. The basilica and Hasselburg Estate highlight different architectural periods, while the Kremper Au offers a different landscape. If you are travelling with varied interests, you can plan your trip around whether culture, nature or both are most important to you.

Architectural history and estate culture

The basilica was built before its first documented mention in 1197. Its notable furnishings include a bronze baptismal font from the 13th century, an altar dating from the middle of the 18th century and a Sauer organ from 1901. Its furnishings thus bring together periods several centuries apart. Gut Sierhagen, too, has historical roots reaching back to the 12th century.

Hasselburg Estate is an 18th-century estate complex in Altenkrempe and a venue for concerts by the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. The symmetrical complex comprises two barns, two cavalier houses, a gatehouse and a manor house. The manor house contains a Baroque hall with illusionistic ceiling paintings. The Reetscheune (thatched barn) is used for cultural events and music productions. The architecture, interiors and cultural use thus offer different points of interest for a stay focused on history or music.

The Kremper Au landscape

The 191-hectare Kremper Au is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The designated landscape includes an extensive area of lowland grassland near Altenkrempe, as well as flowing waters, spring habitats, beech forest and alluvial forest of alder and ash. This mosaic of grassland, water and forest provides a different focus from the symmetrical complex at Hasselburg Estate: there, the architecture takes centre stage; here, it is the diversity of habitats. This distinction can help you decide which themes you want to shape your trip.

Mill visit and café

Tours for small groups at Hasselburg Mill can be arranged by appointment. Please arrange your visit in advance. The annual Mill Day includes a guided introduction to the mill and its technology; check the event date before your trip, as the annual schedule may change.

The Palmenhaus Café in Altenkrempe is right next to the old estate gardens. The menu includes homemade cakes and tarts, as well as small savoury dishes. Gluten-free, vegan or lactose-free alternatives are available on request. The selection may change, so if you have a specific requirement, please ask in advance. Parking is available on site; check the current parking situation before your visit.

More to explore in Ostholstein

The wider Ostholstein travel region also offers distinctive cultural and nature-related attractions. In Eutin, the festival stages changing opera or operetta performances outdoors every summer. The Ostholstein Museum in Eutin features changing exhibitions and a permanent exhibition about the town during its heyday around 1800. If you are interested in exploring the landscape, a circular trail at Lake Eutin runs partly right along the shore and partly along natural forest paths. Along the way, it offers views of Eutin, the palace and the palace gardens. These attractions complement Altenkrempe’s offerings with further, clearly distinct cultural and nature experiences in Ostholstein.

Discover more destinations: Süsel, Bosau, Kasseedorf, Wangels, Bad Schwartau, Heringsdorf, Scharbeutz, Ahrensbök

Back to the main travel overview: Ostholstein.