Rantzau: Hiking Trails and Local History

Rantzau combines hiking trails in a natural setting with specific historical landmarks. The municipality lies in the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park; numerous hiking trails run within the municipality. Hiking and cycling are ideal ways to experience Rantzau’s natural surroundings. At the same time, Rantzau is considered close to the Baltic Sea, including Hohwacht Bay. This is particularly appealing to travellers who want to include swimming and the beach in their holiday. This gives you three themes to consider when planning your trip: outdoor activities close by, coastal experiences in the wider region and local history.

On Foot and by Bike

The numerous hiking trails within the municipality make it easy to enjoy nature locally. Hiking and cycling are two ways to explore Rantzau’s natural surroundings; you can focus your stay more on trails and outdoor activities or combine them with excursions in the wider Plön travel region. The regional perspective also matters for swimming and the beach: Rantzau is considered close to the Baltic Sea, and Hohwacht Bay is part of this coastal setting. When planning, you can distinguish between activities in the municipality and a day at the beach or swimming in the coastal area.

Castle and Paper Mill

Rantzau Castle adds a specific historical landmark: Heinrich Rantzau had it built in 1592. Another notable place is the old Rantzau paper mill. It lies on the B 430 towards Lütjenburg. The castle and paper mill give the area a historical dimension alongside its trails and nature. If you are interested in the history of a travel destination, these names and the date of construction provide starting points for learning more about Rantzau.

Plön as the Wider Travel Region

The wider Plön travel region offers a diverse landscape. Plön district lies between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland and has around 50 kilometres of Baltic coastline. The district has around 80 lakes, including Lake Großer Plöner See, covering 29 km², and Lake Selenter See, covering 22 km². Large parts of the district belong to the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park, which covers 75,000 hectares. This regional setting brings together lakes, coastline and nature experiences, while Rantzau’s hiking trails provide a local focus.

Along the district’s Baltic coast, there are opportunities for swimming between Mönkeberg and Sehlendorfer Strand. Sailing, surfing, diving and boat excursions are also possible there, as are offshore sailing trips, cutter trips and surf fishing. On Prinzeninsel, a bathing area offers a gently sloping sandy beach about 100 metres wide. It is accessible only on foot or by bicycle; visitor facilities may vary seasonally. The wider Plön travel region therefore offers a range of coastal experiences, from a day at the beach to activities on the water.

There are more options inland, too: you can explore the Schwentine water trail by canoe in Plön district; the lakes are also used by sailing boats and excursion boats. For cycling tours, the district has a signposted network of cycle routes covering 850 kilometres; its routes may change. Developed Nordic walking trails round out the regional offering.

Choose the Right Focus

When looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide what kind of daily pace you want. Would you like to focus on Rantzau’s hiking trails and named historical sites, or should the wider region, with its lakes, coastline and water activities, feature more prominently in your plans?

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bösdorf, Bosau, Dersau, Dörnick, Ascheberg, Wittmoldt, Lebrade, Rathjensdorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Lake Großer Plöner See.