Flintbek’s Late Gothic brick church combines a long building history with works of art from several centuries. A permit for a church in Flintbek dates from 1223; the current church building was probably built in the 14th century. Those wishing to look beyond this local cultural attraction will find further topics related to the coast, nature parks, and regional trails in the wider destination of Rendsburg-Eckernförde.
Church: Building History and Features
The two early dates refer to different stages. In 1223, a permit was granted for a church in Flintbek, while the current Late Gothic brick building probably dates from the 14th century. Thus, an early date for the church permit stands alongside a considerably later, only approximate construction period.
The furnishings also reflect several different periods. Inside the church is a three-part Late Gothic carved altarpiece dating from around 1450. Reymer Jappe created the bronze baptismal font in 1515. The Marcussen organ was built in 1845 and later modified. The time separating the altarpiece, baptismal font, and organ shows that the furnishings are not limited to a single era; later modifications are also part of the instrument’s history.
A Virtual View of the Tower and Bells
The Flintbek church website offers a virtual tour that also includes a view of the tower and bells. This provides another way to explore the church digitally. Check whether the virtual tour is available before your visit.
Rendsburg-Eckernförde as a Broader Destination
Beyond its cultural sites, the wider destination of Rendsburg-Eckernförde encompasses a variety of landscapes. The district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde has 55 kilometers of Baltic Sea coastline. Eckernförde has a four-kilometer-long white sandy beach. Another regional feature is the Kiel Canal: about 70 kilometers, or two-thirds, of the canal runs through the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. The coast, beach, and canal each represent a different aspect of this broader destination.
There are also different ways to explore the landscape on foot or by bike. The district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde has a signposted network of 1,000 kilometers of cycle routes. The 180-kilometer Nature Park Hiking Trail passes through the district’s four nature parks. Another regional hiking route is the European long-distance trail E1, marked throughout with white St. Andrew’s crosses, which runs through the Hüttener Berge, the Brekendorf Forest, and over the Aschberg. The cycle network and named hiking routes offer different ways to find your way around the region.
The nature park landscapes also have distinct characteristics. The nature parks in the district consist to a large extent of nature and landscape conservation areas and provide habitats for a diverse range of animal and plant life. The Westensee-Obere Eider Nature Park is characterized by numerous lake complexes in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands. It includes Westensee, which covers around seven square kilometers and is a popular destination; the banks of the Eider in this nature park provide a habitat for kingfishers. Dosenmoor provides a habitat for distinctive flora and fauna. On a clear day, the view from the 98-meter-high Aschberg stretches as far as the Kiel Canal, Eckernförde Bay, and the state capital, Kiel.
Discover more destinations: Damendorf, Norby, Gammelby, LĂĽtjenwestedt, Borgstedt, Brekendorf, Bokel, Hamweddel.
See the broader travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.
