Bäk: Cultural Trail, Border History and Boat Trips

Bäk offers several ways to shape a trip: the Cultural History Trail through the Kupfermühlental valley, the surrounding countryside, which is suitable for hiking, cycling and Nordic walking, and boat trips on the lakes around Ratzeburg. This means you can choose between different interests, including local history, outdoor activities on land and a trip on the water.

Cultural history along the trail

The Cultural History Trail is around 1.5 kilometres long and runs through the Kupfermühlental valley. Nine illustrated information boards cover the history of the church and community, the former era of watermills and post-war history along the border. Other topics include local flora, fauna and geology. The trail thus connects several historical periods with a natural history perspective on the area. If you are interested in local history, you will find not just one chapter here, but also topics relating to nature and the landscape.

Countryside and boat trips

The countryside around Bäk borders the former inner-German Green Belt and is considered suitable for hiking, cycling and Nordic walking. This gives you a choice of different ways to get active on land during your stay. For a view from the water, there is a landing stage next to Bäk’s bathing area. Boat trips on the lakes around the island town of Ratzeburg depart from there. If you are planning a trip, it is a good idea to check the current timetable in advance.

Border history at Lake Mechow

Another cultural and historical point of interest in the area is the Grenzhus Schlagsdorf. It can be reached from Bäk on foot or by bicycle along Lake Mechow and is dedicated to German-German history. This complements a topic also covered by Bäk’s Cultural History Trail, which includes post-war history along the border. Café Grenzstein serves lunch as well as homemade cakes and pastries. You can therefore combine a history-focused outing with a visit to a café.

Beyond Bäk: the Duchy of Lauenburg

The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg offers a broader setting for exploring nature and culture. Forests cover 26 percent of the district of the Duchy of Lauenburg, which also has 48 lakes. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. Covering an area of around 35 by 17 kilometres, it provides a habitat for kingfishers, white-tailed eagles and cranes, among other species. The nature park has hiking trails, observation towers, educational trails and places to rest; it has been a protected area for visitors to enjoy since 1960.

In the nature park, you can hike, cycle, go canoeing and swim in the forest lakes. Guided excursions with experts focus on the area’s wildlife and plant life, as well as the district’s cultural history. It is best to check the dates of specific excursions before your trip.

The Duchy of Lauenburg also offers a range of regional options for hiking and cycling. The European long-distance walking routes E1, E6 and E9 cross the duchy from north to south via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. Four cycling routes are also signposted in the nature park. The Lakes Cycling Tour is a circular route of around 40 kilometres through the park, starting in the cathedral and island town of Ratzeburg. These regional options offer a different focus from Bäk’s Cultural History Trail: you can plan your trip according to whether you mainly want to explore the town or also include regional hiking and cycling routes.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Schmilau.

Go to the wider travel overview: Lauenburg Lakes.