Discover Ratekau: nature, water and culture
Accommodation in Ratekau
Ratekau is considered a green inland holiday destination; hiking trails, Lake Hemmelsdorf, the Sielbektal nature reserve, and nature and cultural attractions in the villages shape its character. This lets you focus your trip in different ways: time in nature, activities by the water or cultural discoveries. It gives your planning a direction without reducing the variety of experiences to a single type of holiday.
Landscape and nature in Ratekau
Within the municipality of Ratekau, the Schwartau Valley, with Riesebusch and StĂĽckerbusch, is considered a scenic area crossed by beech forests. The Schwartau Valley recreational area is also home to the rare red-breasted flycatcher. The landscape and birdlife thus offer two different perspectives on the same area: the beech forests as part of the scenery and the habitat of a rare species. If you are interested in nature, these aspects can shape how you experience the surroundings during your stay.
Water and activities at the natural swimming area
Lake Hemmelsdorf is one of Ratekau’s natural attractions. At the Lake Hemmelsdorf natural swimming area in Offendorf, there are designated areas for swimmers and non-swimmers, a three-metre diving tower and a one-metre diving board. There is also a beach volleyball court and a playground with accessible play equipment. This makes it possible to accommodate different interests in your day’s plans: swimming, diving, ball games or time at the playground. If you are travelling with children, you can tailor your choices to your fellow travellers’ preferences without assuming that everyone wants to do the same activity.
The natural swimming area has accessible toilets, showers and changing rooms. There is also a designated disabled parking space and step-free access; e-bike charging stations complete the facilities. These details can help with planning if you want to take practical requirements into account alongside the swimming areas.
Church, events and village museum
The St. Vicelin Church, also known as the Ratekau Fieldstone Church, has shaped the region for more than 850 years. The fieldstone church hosts concerts, readings and guided tours; the events programme may change. In addition to its long-standing influence on the region, the church is therefore a cultural point of interest.
The Ratekau Village Museum displays agricultural machinery, tools of various trades, a shoemaker’s workshop and finds from a local Stone Age megalithic tomb. Its exhibits cover topics ranging from agriculture and crafts to archaeological finds. A visit to the museum lets you explore different facets of local history and combine the cultural focus of your trip with experiences in nature or by the water.
More cultural destinations in the wider Ostholstein holiday region
The wider Ostholstein holiday region also offers cultural destinations with a range of focuses and seasonal programmes. Each summer, the Eutin Festival presents different operas or operettas as open-air performances. The Ostholstein Museum in Eutin features changing exhibitions as well as a permanent exhibition about Eutin during its heyday around 1800. Cismar Abbey in the municipality of Grömitz also hosts changing exhibitions; concerts take place in its vaulted hall during the winter season.
The wider Ostholstein holiday region therefore offers open-air performances in summer, museum visits and winter concerts. When planning your trip, you can consider whether a particular season or cultural focus matters especially to you. If you want to attend a specific performance or concert, check the event dates in advance. This makes it possible to choose accommodation based on the experiences you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Kreuzkamp, Pansdorf, Warnsdorf, Luschendorf, Bosau, Fehmarn, Grömitz, Kellenhusen.
Back to the main travel overview: Ostholstein.
