Schinkel: Nature Trail, Farm Culture and Village History

Schinkel offers various ways to explore its landscape and village history: a nature trail with views over fields, the canal, woods and meadows; routes with historical themes; and insights into farming. Whether you enjoy spending your days outdoors, looking at old photographs or discovering regional farm culture, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here for planning your trip.

Field paths, views and seasonal flowers

The Schinkel “Nature” Trail is 6 km long and offers views over fields, the canal, woods and meadows. It runs mostly along field paths, with only a few stretches on roads; benches along the route invite you to take a break. The trail is therefore primarily defined by its scenery. Another place to linger is Hof Mevs, with a pick-your-own flower field in the village centre. The benches there are ideal for resting after a bike ride, having a picnic and watching insects. The flowers are generally in bloom from around mid-June to early October.

For a different perspective on the village, two tours focus on its history. The historical village tour follows cycle paths and footpaths only. The tour “What did Schinkel used to look like?” offers insights into Schinkel’s past through old photographs and information. Depending on your interests, you can choose a tour with scenic views or focus on photographs and local history.

Mill, church and traces of early settlement

De Schinkler Möhl is Schinkel’s landmark and a regional destination for excursions. It was originally a grain mill. Following extensive renovation and redesign, it was inaugurated as a centre on 8 August 2004. Today, it is a local meeting place with regular activities and events. Stone Age finds also offer a glimpse into the history of the village: Objects dating from around 4000 BC include a perforated stone axe and other artefacts on display in the Möhl. These finds point to early settlement in Schinkel.

The Evangelical Church of the Good Shepherd was inaugurated in 1960. A simple wooden church with a pitched roof and distinctive bell tower, it adds a striking architectural feature of its own. The church is open to those seeking a place for quiet reflection. Together with the mill and the tour featuring old photographs, it offers a different way to explore Schinkel’s history than the routes through the landscape.

Farm life and regional produce

Schinkel presents itself as an “organic region”. One example is a three-hectare flax project that produces regional linseed oil. Hof Mevs is a plant and goat farm with a cheese dairy and oil mill; its pick-your-own flower field adds a seasonal experience in the village to this agricultural offering. At Gut Rosenkrantz, the organic farm cultivates many fields in and around Schinkel. The estate was formerly called Gut Schinkel and managed tenant farms in Schinkel. Today’s farming and the area’s historical farm connections thus offer different insights into what has shaped the village.

Schinkel in the wider region

The signposted cycling network in Rendsburg-Eckernförde district covers 1,000 kilometres. The district’s cycling offer also includes five long-distance cycle routes, five e-bike tours and twelve themed routes. Marked routes lead through nature parks, follow the Kiel Canal, explore Stone Age history or connect seaside resorts; some can be shortened for families. The district is also home to four nature parks. A substantial part of these parks consists of nature and landscape conservation areas, providing habitats for a diverse range of plants and wildlife.

When choosing accommodation in Schinkel, the kind of days you have in mind can help guide your decision: the nature trail puts the landscape and field paths centre stage, while the photo tour, the Möhl and the church offer a focus on village history. The flax project and farms add insights into agriculture and regional produce.

Discover more destinations: Klein Wittensee, Hamweddel, Molfsee, Hoffeld, Brügge, Aukrug, Fleckeby, Eisendorf.

For the overview of the wider region: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.