Rastorf: Moor, Schwentine and manor history

Rastorf combines a protected moorland landscape with architectural and historical traces along the Schwentine. The Moorweiher pond, the listed Rastorf arched bridge and Gut Rastorf, with its distinctive late Baroque gables, offer visitors different points of interest during a stay. St. Ansgar’s Chapel in Rastorf and the history of Rastorf Mill are also among the local topics. A burial mound on Moorsehdener Weg lies between Rosenfeld and Rehburg. Depending on whether nature, architectural heritage or cycling is the focus of your stay, you can discover Rastorf from different perspectives.

Moor pond and habitats

The Moorweiher pond near Rastorf is a 55-hectare Natura 2000 site in a side valley of the Schwentine, north of Gut Rastorf. Its habitat types include transition mires and quaking bogs, woodruff-beech forest and bog woodland. The different moorland and forest habitats make a striking contribution to the natural landscape. They offer a different way to experience Rastorf than the town’s architectural and historical attractions.

Bridge, manor and the history of milling

The Rastorf arched bridge is a listed monument and spans the Schwentine. Gut Rastorf is a local attraction at the manor’s gatehouse; the manor is associated with striking late Baroque gables. St. Ansgar’s Chapel is located at Wildenhorster Weg 14 in Rastorf. Another cultural attraction, in a different location, is the burial mound on Moorsehdener Weg between Rosenfeld and Rehburg.

Rastorf Mill also tells a story of technological development: in 1904, at the initiative of Bernhard Howaldt, it was converted into a hydroelectric power station to supply the Howaldt shipyard. A second plant was built at Rosensee in 1909. This history adds a glimpse of the former use of hydropower to the area’s striking architectural features.

Cycle routes with different waypoints

One described route follows the shore of Rosensee that belongs to Rastorf as far as Rosenfeld, then continues along Dorfstraße and a rough track to White Bridge. There is an important caveat for the cycle route section between Rastorf Mill and Rosenfeld: it can be narrow, steep and full of roots alongside the Schwentine, and should be avoided when cycling with small children. Check the conditions on site, as the surface and accessibility of the route may change.

A circular route of around seven kilometres starts at Schwentinental Town Hall and runs via Oppendorfer Mill, the Schwentine, Rosensee and White Bridge. The routes described therefore offer different reference points: on the route via Rosenfeld, the route itself and conditions on the section near the mill are important; for the circular route, the starting point, approximate length and named stops are key. Check local conditions before this ride, too.

In the wider destination of Plön

Plön district lies between the Baltic Sea and the Holstein Switzerland region and has about 50 kilometres of Baltic coastline. The district has around 80 lakes; Lake Plön covers 29 square kilometres and Lake Selent 22 square kilometres. Activities on the district’s Baltic coast include swimming, sailing, surfing, diving, boat excursions, offshore trips, cutter trips and surf fishing. Large parts of the district are within the 75,000-hectare Holstein Switzerland Nature Park, which offers opportunities to experience nature and see rare animals.

This distinction helps you start your search based on the kind of trip you have in mind.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Fargau-Pratjau, Brodersdorf, Probsteierhagen, Schrevenborn, Stakendorf, Pohnsdorf, Preetz, Bönebüttel

Go to the wider travel overview: Plön.