Discover Rickert: village history, oak trees and annual tree trail
Accommodation in Rickert
Rickert combines a winding village layout that has been preserved to this day with a landscape shaped by the last Ice Age. The Peace Oak and the Double Oak offer different points of reference in the town’s history; the moraine landscape, peatland formation and heathland development describe the landscape. The Rickert Annual Tree Trail and the Selkenkoppel nature trail add nature-related themes. Native deciduous and coniferous trees are the focus of the Selkenkoppel nature trail.
Village history in the layout and oak trees
The historic village centre has retained its winding layout. Thus, Rickert’s history is shaped not only by a single landmark, but also by the form of the village itself. A Peace Oak dating from 1871 stands near the entrance to Brenkhof; by the smithy stands a Double Oak, regarded as a symbol of the indivisibility of Schleswig and Holstein. The two trees have different historical associations: the year is significant for the Peace Oak, while the Double Oak is associated with its traditional symbolism. The municipal coat of arms also depicts a wagon wheel and a harrow.
Church history and cultural uses
Until Campen Church was demolished in 1691, Rickert belonged to the Campen parish. Regular church services are held at Rickert’s community meeting place; the Rendsburg Low German Theatre also uses the venue for performances. The former parish affiliation and present-day uses thus belong to different points in the town’s history. If you are planning to attend a performance, check the specific date in advance.
Geest, peatland and heath
Rickert lies in the outer moraine zone of the last Ice Age and near the boundary between the Schleswiger and Holsteiner Geest forelands. The terrain is mostly flat, with a few small hills in the east. Describing it as a flat landscape with a few elevations is therefore more accurate than portraying it as continuously hilly. The formation of peatland and heath is also part of the landscape: meltwater channels around Rickert shaped peatland over thousands of years, while heath developed in sandier areas. These two landscape forms have different origins: peatland is associated with the meltwater channels, and heath with sandier areas.
Rickert in the wider region
The wider Rendsburg-Eckernförde destination offers a perspective beyond Rickert’s local history and landscape. The district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde has 55 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. The Kiel Canal also shapes the Rendsburg region; about 70 kilometres, or two thirds, of the canal run through the district. For trip planning, two different scales can therefore be distinguished: Rickert’s village centre and Ice Age-shaped landscape on the one hand, and the coast and canal attractions of the wider destination on the other. The district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde is also home to four nature parks. The district’s signposted cycle network covers 1,000 kilometres; the 180-kilometre Nature Park Hiking Trail runs through these four nature parks.
Discover more destinations: Molfsee, Damendorf, Beldorf, Hoffeld, BĂĽdelsdorf, Rieseby, Gammelby, Steenfeld.
Go to the wider travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.
