Ausacker offers two distinct perspectives on a stay: the local history of a watermill on the Kielstau and the nearby Winderatter See–Kielstau landscape. The mill operated on the eastern edge of the village from 1487 to 1845. In the landscape, wetlands sit alongside pasture and farmland. If you are looking for accommodation in Ausacker, these historical and landscape themes can help you get your bearings.
Natural Landscape and Circular Trail at Winderatter See
The Winderatter See–Kielstau landscape combines reed beds, sedge meadows, wet moorland and wet woodland with old oak and beech hedgerows, small ponds, pastures and farmland. The area is designated as both a landscape conservation area and a Natura 2000 site. The different habitats and land uses give the natural landscape its distinctive variety; these protected-area designations coexist with a landscape that also includes pasture and farmland.
For a walk, the nearby Winderatter See area offers a circular trail approximately five kilometres long. A nature trail with 22 information boards covers nature, species conservation, culture and history. There are also five designated picnic areas. You can therefore enjoy the circular trail, the themed information boards and a break as different parts of your visit. The stated length provides an approximate guide to the route; trail conditions may change, so it is advisable to check them before setting out.
The Watermill and the Former Shoreline
The watermill on the Kielstau stood on the eastern edge of Ausacker and operated from 1487 to 1845. When the lake was used to supply energy to the mill, the shoreline changed. Stones still mark its former course today. The mill’s history therefore tells not only of the former use of water power: it is also linked to a visible trace of landscape change. The stones are traces in the landscape, not a working museum attraction.
This local historical connection can be considered separately from the nature theme at Winderatter See: the mill’s operating period and the former shoreline are at the heart of the former, while habitats, a circular trail and information boards shape a visit to the lake. Both themes help put Ausacker and its nearby surroundings into context without combining them into a single attraction or a prescribed route.
More Themes in the Schleswig-Flensburg Destination
The wider Schleswig-Flensburg destination has other distinct cultural and natural themes. Haithabu and the Danewerk have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2018. More than 25 kilometres of the Danewerk rampart remain today. This is a different historical scale from Ausacker’s mill history: here, the focus is on a watermill and the shoreline created by its use; there, on a World Heritage Site that includes a long surviving section of rampart.
The landscapes in the wider Schleswig-Flensburg destination are also varied. At 773 hectares, Geltinger Birk is the district’s largest nature reserve. The Schlei Nature Park’s landscape includes gentle hills, forests, hedgerow landscapes, rapeseed and grain fields, sandy beaches and bathing coves. The Schlei’s brackish-water areas provide habitats for numerous endangered bird species. Geltinger Birk has well-maintained paths and guided walks that share information about the flora and fauna.
When planning your stay, it helps to keep these different scales in mind: Ausacker combines the history of the mill with the nearby natural landscape; the World Heritage and landscape themes mentioned above belong to the wider Schleswig-Flensburg destination.
Discover more destinations: Tastrup, Großsolt, Maasbüll, Freienwill
Go to the main travel overview: Hürup.
