Named after the Baltic Sea inlet on which it is located, Schleswig is a northern German town near the border with Denmark. It evolved from the Viking settlement of Hedeby, which was destroyed in the 11th century and rebuilt at the current site. Ruled by Denmark for many years, Schleswig was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1864.
Things to do in Schleswig
Delve into the local history at the Stadtmuseum Schleswig, which occupies a 17th-century court complex known as the Günderothschen Hof. Its exhibits detail the history of the town from the Middle Ages to the present day, including its Danish heritage. Housed within the attic is a collection of vintage toys, including antique dollhouses and rocking horses.
On an island in the Burgsee is Schloss Gottorf, a whitewashed castle dating back to the 16th century. It has been beautifully restored to its former glory and houses archaeological treasures and works of art. A highlight of the collection is the Nydam Boat, an oak-built Danish vessel that dates back to the 4th century AD.
A short drive from Schleswig is the historic fishing village of Holm, which was established more than 1,000 years ago on an island in the Schlei. Its cobblestone streets are lined with beautiful old cottages, all of which radiate from the central cemetery. You can learn about life here in times gone by at the Holm Museum before visiting one of the best-preserved monasteries in Schleswig-Holstein, St. John’s Monastery.
Getting around Schleswig
Schleswig is around 45 minutes’ drive from Kiel and 1.5 hours from Lübeck Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Schleswig railway station and buses travel through the town. The centre of Schleswig can easily be explored on foot.