Linau: Linau Castle and the Hahnheide

Linau lies on the edge of the Hahnheide nature reserve and recreation area, right next to the district boundary with Stormarn. Linau Castle and the landscape on the outskirts give the village two clearly recognisable themes: medieval building history and natural surroundings.

Linau Castle: history and visible traces

The Scharpenberg knights built Linau Castle in the late 13th century, overlooking the Hamburg–Lübeck trade route. The castle is a motte on a ring-shaped foundation. The surviving stone ring foundations are listed as an archaeological monument. Following the authentic restoration of the foundations, the remaining castle ruins are more clearly visible; the ruin is considered unique of its kind in South Holstein.

Three castle mounds surrounded by moats are clearly visible in the landscape. There are also surviving medieval wall remains with diameters of up to four metres. Archaeological work in 2018 also documented a brick kiln, probably dating from the 19th century. The site therefore reveals several distinct traces: the castle’s shape, surviving structural elements and evidence of later use.

Local history also has a specific point of reference: Linau is recorded in the Ratzeburg tithe register for 1230. The source of the Bille appears in the municipal coat of arms as a local landmark. Linau Castle lies west of the village centre, near Dorfstraße. An association preserves and interprets the ruin, including through guided tours. Before visiting, check whether a tour is offered and when.

The Hahnheide and other destinations in Stormarn

The Hahnheide is the largest nature reserve in Stormarn district. Numerous hiking trails and a cycling loop provide access to this natural area. This means that, alongside the castle site, a wider landscape is also in focus: visitors interested in nature and outdoor activities will find different points of interest in the Hahnheide than in the archaeological traces of Linau Castle.

Elsewhere in Stormarn, the “Langer Otto” observation tower in the Hahnheide offers views as far as Hamburg. The Hohenfelder Damm, a protected cobblestone road dating from the 18th century, offers a different point of interest. The viewpoint and historic road represent different kinds of excursion in the district; both broaden the scope beyond Linau without replacing the castle’s local history.

The wider setting of the Duchy of Lauenburg

In the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg, the landscape includes 48 lakes and 26 percent forest cover. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park offers hiking trails, observation towers, educational trails and places to rest. Visitors can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in forest lakes there. This is a broader nature and activity setting than Linau’s specific focus on the castle and its location on the edge of the Hahnheide.

If you would also like to include the lakes and activities in the nature park, consider the wider Duchy of Lauenburg as a regional destination in its own right.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gudow, Lauenburg Lakes, Sterley, Schwarzenbek-Land, Fredeburg, Ziehten, Berkenthin, Schönberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.