Discover Grabau: Cycling, Nature and History
Accommodation in Grabau
Grabau combines cycling and nature experiences with a rich architectural history. The BahnRadWeg route, a freely accessible nature experience and historic buildings each offer something different. You can explore the town according to your interests: cycle along a former railway line, explore forest stations or learn about estate history and architecture.
Along the BahnRadWeg route and through the forest
The 27-kilometre BahnRadWeg Route A runs from Bad Oldesloe through Grabau to Henstedt-Ulzburg. It follows the former corridor of the Elmshorn-Barmstedt-Oldesloer-Eisenbahn AG. Rail services ended in 1973; the corridor was later converted into a cycle path. The route thus combines a cycling trip today with the history of a former railway line.
Route A ends near Henstedt-Ulzburg station, from where there are train connections to Hamburg. If you plan to continue your journey by train, check the connections and access conditions in advance. Another cycling route leads through Grabauer Forst to Lake Grabau. The routes offer different experiences: one focuses on the former railway line, the other on the path through the forest to the lake.
Forest stations and independent exploration
Naturerlebnis Grabau is freely accessible and lets visitors explore the forest independently. The site can be reached directly via BahnRadWeg Route A. A network of hiking trails runs through the surrounding forest; the nature experience also includes a forest playground and a low ropes course.
The forest nature trail features stations on forestry, alder carr, sound and birdwatching. There is also a barefoot trail, as well as bat and woodpecker trees. A walk in the forest brings together different ways to explore: observing nature, listening at sound stations and trying hands-on activities. Some of the nature trail’s features may change.
Manor houses, chapel and park
Gut Grabau is a former aristocratic estate. The manor house dates from 1804; the estate itself has its roots in an older Meierhof, or tenant farm. Gut Grabau is classified as having historic, artistic, urban-planning and cultural-landscape significance.
The listed country residence “Schloss Grabau” was built between 1906 and 1908 as a two-storey, castle-like villa in the English country-house style. Elements of English Gothic Revival and Art Nouveau shape its architecture. Grabau Chapel was a burial chapel, built in 1923/24 in neo-Gothic forms with late Art Nouveau influences. Inside is a marble statue of the Madonna and Child by sculptor Stanislaus Cauer of Königsberg.
The estate park is a roughly twelve-hectare landscape park and villa garden with a pond and two thatched pavilions. Access may be restricted by the private owners. Bear this restriction in mind when planning a visit.
Glacial erratics from three ice ages
The Grabauer Findlingsgarten, a glacial erratic garden, lies along the cycle path and contains 30 erratics from Stormarn district. Their origins are associated with geological formations from the past three ice ages. Almost every type of rock found in Scandinavia is represented in the garden. Granite and gneiss predominate among the larger stones. Its variety makes the erratic garden a destination in its own right for anyone interested in rocks and their geological history.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Tangstedt, Ammersbek, Brunsbek, Siek, LĂĽtjensee, Ahrensburg, Delingsdorf, TravenbrĂĽck.
Go to the main travel overview: Stormarn.
