Katharinenhof: Natural Beach, Steep Coast and History

Katharinenhof draws attention to a varied coastal landscape and historical evidence from widely separated periods. Stones and the steep coast behind the beach shape the natural shoreline; the manor house and ancient dolmen open up topics beyond the coast. If you would like to combine nature and culture on your holiday, you can take these different aspects of the area into account when planning your trip.

Natural Beach and Steep Coast

Katharinenhof’s natural beach is especially popular with people who enjoy looking for and collecting stones. Behind the beach is a steep coast that drops sharply towards the sea by about five metres in some places. The coast changes naturally through erosion: its shape is not fixed, but is shaped by this process. The stony beach and striking coastal edge are therefore part of a landscape in a state of change.

Woodland lies above the steep coast; together with the stony beach, it gives the coast a natural and idyllic character. From the steep coast, the view stretches far across the Baltic Sea, high above the water. Walks along the steep coast are ideal for active days. You can also explore sections of the wider steep-coast landscape by bicycle. This offers different ways to get around: walking along the steep coast and cycling along sections of the larger coastal landscape.

Manor House and Ancient Dolmen

The historic manor house in Katharinenhof was built in 1756; relics from earlier times have been preserved there to this day. The year of construction provides a clear historical reference point, while the surviving relics tell of the building’s older past. If you are interested in historic buildings, the manor house offers a different way to explore Katharinenhof than the beach and steep coast.

An even more distant period is represented by the ancient dolmen in Katharinenhof, also known as the Katharinenhof V megalithic tomb. It is a prehistoric megalithic tomb dating from between 3500 and 2800 BC. This places it well before the manor house was built in 1756. The two sites represent different periods of history: one is evidence from prehistory, the other a historic manor house with preserved relics.

The ancient dolmen is near Hinrichsberg. At 27.9 metres, Hinrichsberg is the highest point on the island of Fehmarn. This named high point helps put the location of the megalithic tomb in the context of Fehmarn’s landscape. Those interested in history can thus connect their interest in a prehistoric tomb with a specific feature of the island’s landscape.

What interests shape your trip?

Different priorities may influence the choice of Katharinenhof as a destination: the coastal landscape with its beach, steep coast and woodland, or the historical topics surrounding the manor house and ancient dolmen. If you enjoy active pursuits, you can consider the options mentioned for walking and exploring sections of the area by bicycle. Those with a particular interest in history will find two clearly distinct points of reference in the manor house’s construction date and the much earlier dating of the ancient dolmen.

If you are looking for accommodation, first consider which of these aspects of the area you would like to shape your stay most. You can then compare the location of a particular option with your own travel plans. This way, your search is guided by what you would like to discover in Katharinenhof, rather than by a general idea of what a stay should be like.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Presen, Klausdorf, Albertsdorf, Gammendorf, Burg auf Fehmarn, Sulsdorf, Lemkenhafen, Wenkendorf

Return to the main travel overview: Fehmarn.