Spa hotels in Holstein Switzerland
Schleswig-Holstein's lake country: around 200 lakes between Kiel and Lübeck, the Großer Plöner See as the largest lake in the state, the Kneipp spa of Bad Malente and the rose town of Eutin, the “Weimar of the North”.
Holidays & wellness in Holstein Switzerland
Holstein Switzerland is Schleswig-Holstein's gently rolling lake country — an ice-age-shaped hill landscape between Kiel and Lübeck in which around 200 lakes line up. It owes its name to the almost “Alpine” up and down of the terminal moraines, by North German standards; its charm to the interplay of water, beech forest and rapeseed fields. Its heart is the Großer Plöner See, at around 28 square kilometres the largest lake in Schleswig-Holstein. Above it sits Plön Castle; in Eutin the “Weimar of the North” invites with its baroque palace and roses, and Bad Malente-Gremsmühlen has carried the Kneipp-spa title since the 1950s. Water, forest and a gentle cure — the region is northern Germany's quiet wellness answer to the coast.
What this region stands for
- Kneipp cure (Bad Malente)
- Lake wellness & canoeing
- Nature-park hiking & cycling
- Palaces & culture (Plön, Eutin)
- Family holidays by the lake
Why wellness here?
The wellness profile of Holstein Switzerland is lake, forest and Kneipp wellness far from the bustle of the coast. At the centre stands Bad Malente-Gremsmühlen on the land bridge between the Dieksee and the Kellersee — a recognised Kneipp spa since the 1950s, in which the five pillars after Sebastian Kneipp (water, exercise, nutrition, medicinal plants, a balanced way of life) are classically cultivated. All around, the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park offers on around 750 square kilometres everything gentle active recreation needs: quiet hiking and cycle paths through beech forests and terminal moraines, canoe and sailing grounds on the connected lakes, the classic five-lakes trip by excursion boat and viewpoints such as the Holzberg tower. The mixture of a mild stimulating climate, forest air and water makes the region a destination for Kneipp cures, forest bathing and decelerated wellness days.
When to travel here
Spring (April–May): blooming rapeseed fields and orchards, quiet hiking trails. Summer (June–August): high season for bathing, canoeing and sailing, plus the Eutin Festival on the lakeshore. Autumn (September–October): beech forests in autumn colours, the ideal time for hiking and cycling. Kneipp treatments and spa all year round; the shoulder months May/June and September for quiet wellness stays without the crowds.
Sights and anchors for the spa-free day
Großer Plöner See & Plön Castle
At around 28 km² the largest lake in Schleswig-Holstein and the tenth-largest in Germany. Above the shore sits the white Plön Castle from the 17th century; in the nature-park house you learn how the ice age shaped this lake landscape. All around run cycle and hiking paths; from the water the five-lakes trip opens up the region.
Eutin — the Weimar of the North
The rose town of Eutin was the residence of the prince-bishops of Lübeck and the birthplace of the composer Carl Maria von Weber. Its baroque palace with an English landscape garden on the Eutiner See and the summer Eutin Festival in the open air make it the cultural anchor of the region.
Bad Malente-Gremsmühlen — Kneipp spa
On the narrow land bridge between the Dieksee and the Kellersee, a recognised Kneipp spa since the 1950s. The starting point of the classic five-lakes trip; plus a wildlife park, an arboretum and the wooden Holzberg tower with a wide view over the lake landscape.
Holstein Switzerland Nature Park
Around 750 km² of ice-age-shaped hill and lake landscape with about 200 lakes between Kiel and Lübeck. Beech forests, terminal moraines and bogs shape the picture; marked hiking, cycle and canoe routes open up the region close to nature.
Ukleisee and Holzberg tower
The small Ukleisee near Eutin, surrounded by beech forest, counts as one of the most romantic spots in the region — a popular walk leads around the shore. The nearby Holzberg tower offers one of the most beautiful panoramas over the chain of lakes.
Official tourism portals
Up-to-date information on getting there, events, opening hours and visitor's tax is available directly from the destinations.
Frequently asked questions about the region
What is Holstein Switzerland?
That is the name of a gently hilly, lake-rich landscape in the east of Schleswig-Holstein between Kiel and Lübeck. It owes its name to its ice-age-shaped hills, unusually undulating by North German standards. In the nature park around 200 lakes line up — water, beech forest and fields shape the picture.
Which is the largest lake in the region?
The Großer Plöner See at around 28 square kilometres — at the same time the largest lake in Schleswig-Holstein and the tenth-largest in Germany. On its shore lies the town of Plön with its white castle; the classic five-lakes trip connects it with the neighbouring lakes.
What does Kneipp have to do with Holstein Switzerland?
Bad Malente-Gremsmühlen has been a recognised Kneipp spa since the 1950s. Here the five pillars of Kneipp therapy — water treatments, exercise, nutrition, medicinal plants and an ordered way of life — are classically cultivated. The region is thus especially suited to Kneipp cures and gentle, nature-based wellness.
What can you do in Holstein Switzerland?
Hiking and cycling through the nature park, canoe and sailing tours on the connected lakes, the five-lakes trip by excursion boat, bathing in summer — plus culture in Plön (the castle) and Eutin (baroque palace, roses, festival). The Holzberg tower and the Ukleisee near Eutin are popular excursions.
When is the best time to travel?
Summer (June–August) for bathing, water sports and the Eutin Festival; spring and autumn for quiet hiking and cycling through blooming or autumn-coloured beech forests. Kneipp treatments and wellness are possible all year round — the shoulder months offer the quietest weeks for them.
Holstein Switzerland — spa hotels & holidays
Northern Germany's lake country between Kiel and Lübeck
Holstein Switzerland is no Switzerland and yet a small wonder: where northern Germany ought to be flat, the glaciers of the last ice age pushed hills, hollows and lakes into one another. Today the nature park counts around 200 lakes, connected by streams and canals, framed by beech forests and fields. Whoever seeks quiet finds it here away from the coastal streams — on quiet paths, by the water, in the forest.
Kneipp, canoe and culture
Wellness has two faces here. One is the Kneipp tradition of Bad Malente — water treading, alternating affusions, exercise and rest, classic and gentle. The other is movement in nature: canoeing on the lakes, cycling and hiking through the nature park, the five-lakes trip by boat. In between lie the cultural anchors of Plön and Eutin with their palaces. A region for everyone who prefers recreation quiet.
Images:
Pkw98, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons