Krummesse brings together a historic landmark and a distinctive landscape feature: the central St. Johannis Church was completed around 1270, and the village lies in the Stecknitz-Delvenau lowland. This allows you to plan your trip on two different scales—around the historic ensemble in the village and the geology of the wider valley area.
Church history at St. Johannis
The historic ensemble includes, alongside the church, an 18th-century rectory and a former pastor’s widow’s house. Together, these offer several points of interest for those interested in church and architectural history: the medieval church is part of a group with two other buildings associated with the church community.
St. Johannis Church is accessible to visitors with limited mobility and is open daily from Easter to Thanksgiving, between 09:00 and 17:00. Check the seasonal visiting hours before your trip so you can plan your visit to the church accordingly.
A glacial lowland
Krummesse lies in the Stecknitz-Delvenau lowland, a broad, U-shaped glacial tunnel valley followed by today’s Elbe-Lübeck Canal. The lowland places the village within a wider valley area and adds a geological perspective to the historical story of St. Johannis.
Duchy of Lauenburg: nature on a larger scale
The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg reveals the landscape on a larger scale. The district of the Duchy of Lauenburg is 26 percent forest and includes 48 lakes. The district is also home to the Sachsenwald, the largest contiguous forest in Schleswig-Holstein. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park lies at the heart of the duchy. Visitors can hike, cycle, canoe and swim in forest lakes there. The nature park also has hiking trails, observation towers, educational trails and rest areas.
Hiking and cycling routes in the Duchy of Lauenburg
Long-distance routes also cover the Duchy as a wider destination. The European long-distance hiking trails E1, E6 and E9 cross the Duchy from north to south via Ratzeburg, Mölln and Lauenburg. The Old Salt Road long-distance cycle route runs from Lauenburg to Lübeck along the Elbe-Lübeck Canal and through the Duchy. This gives you different types of routes to consider when planning a regional trip: long-distance hiking trails running north to south and a cycling route along the canal.
Culture and nature in the regional context
In Lauenburg/Elbe, the Elbe Shipping Museum presents the interactive, three-storey exhibition “People-Model-Machine” about shipping. Visitors can get hands-on with models and experimental stations. The District Museum of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Ratzeburg displays exhibits on the history of the dukes of Lauenburg and the former inner-German border. The Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park offers guided excursions with experts on wildlife, plant life and the district’s cultural history. Check the specific dates for these excursions.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Krummesse, it helps to distinguish between the village and the region: St. Johannis and the Stecknitz-Delvenau lowland describe Krummesse; the nature park, long-distance hiking trails and museums are part of the wider Duchy of Lauenburg. This lets you choose where to stay based on the themes that matter to your trip.
Discover more destinations: Müssen, Behlendorf, Dassendorf, Schwarzenbek-Land, Groß Sarau, Möhnsen, Lankau, Linau
Go to the regional travel overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.
