Schwartbuck combines a long local history with a location between Lake Selent and the Baltic Sea. The landscape and historical development offer two specific points of reference for understanding the place: its first mention in 1216 and the protected areas in the Mühlenau Valley.
Local history and Schmoel Estate
Schwartbuck has more than 800 years of documented history. The village was first mentioned in 1216 as “SUARCE PUC”; later, it developed into an estate and farming village. Its early mention and later character shaped by the estate and agriculture mark different periods in the village’s history.
The architecture of Schmoel Estate also offers a historical point of reference: the impressive buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries can be seen from the L 165 road towards the Baltic Sea. Those interested in architectural history will find a specific architectural feature alongside the village’s development. The view towards the Baltic Sea and the dated buildings describe two distinct aspects of the place and its surroundings.
Location and protected landscape
Schwartbuck lies between Lake Selent and the Baltic Sea. In the Mühlenau Valley, areas have been taken out of agricultural use and placed under nature protection. The landscape therefore encompasses both the open location between the lake and the coast and a protected valley. This description of the landscape complements the village’s history with a second way of understanding Schwartbuck: through its historical development or through its location and protected areas.
Plön as a wider travel destination
The wider travel destination of Plön includes a district with around 80 lakes. These include Lake Großer Plöner See, covering 29 square kilometres, and Lake Selent, covering 22 square kilometres. The district lies between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland and has around 50 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. There are places to swim along this coast, from Mönkeberg to Sehlendorfer Strand.
For activities on the water, the district’s coast offers opportunities for sailing, surfing, diving, boat excursions and offshore trips, cutter trips, and surf fishing. Inland waters and the Schwentine also offer different perspectives: the Schwentine Water Trail can be explored by canoe in the Plön district; the lakes are also navigated by sailboats and excursion boats. This means that coastal experiences and water tours are both part of the wider travel destination, without needing to be combined into a single excursion.
Plön also offers a variety of options for walking and cycling. The gently rolling landscape is well suited to cycling and hiking tours. The district has a signposted cycle route network spanning 850 kilometres; routes may change in the future. Developed Nordic walking routes add to the options. One specific two-day cycling tour runs from Kiel via Plön and Lütjenburg to the Baltic Sea coast and is particularly suitable for e-bikes.
For nature enthusiasts, large parts of the district are within Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. The nature park covers 75,000 hectares and offers opportunities to experience nature and see rare animals. Cultural points of interest in the wider travel destination include Plön Castle, which overlooks the lake of the same name and is considered a landmark of the district. Gut Panker is more than 500 years old, is located in the Plön district, and is now developed for tourism. The estate grounds were formerly managed by the Rantzau family. Lütjenburg is also in the district and is known for its historic town centre.
Discover more destinations: Hohenfelde, Blekendorf, Grebin, Panker, Futterkamp, Hohwacht, Sehlendorf, Tröndel.
Back to the wider travel overview: Lütjenburg.
