A Baltic Sea beach, varied landscapes and routes with traces of the past give Harrislee many different sides. Wassersleben is known for its beach, while the Niehuuser Tunneltal and the Schäferhaus Foundation Land each offer their own natural attractions. The area also features industrial history, theatre and trails through the German-Danish border region. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between these highlights: the beach, nature, culture and tours each offer a different experience.
Wassersleben: beach and getting there
Wassersleben is considered Germany’s westernmost Baltic Sea beach. The beach has public toilets and a beach shower. You can reach Wassersleben by bicycle and on bus routes 1 and 7; check the route numbers before travelling. The area offers more space for pedestrians and cyclists, places to stop and relax, and bicycle racks. This means that both practical ways of getting there and useful facilities are part of the beach experience.
Landscapes with distinct characters
Moorland, meadows and wet woodland shape the landscape of the Niehuuser Tunneltal. The Krusau in the valley is a German-Danish border river and a habitat for rare animal and plant species. The Schäferhaus Foundation Land, by contrast, is a semi-open grazing landscape: dry, nutrient-poor grassland alternates with dense scrub and woodland. The two landscapes therefore offer contrasting scenery, from a damp valley to open pasture dotted with trees and shrubs.
Circular walks and border routes
In the Schäferhaus Foundation Land, a circular route passes historical landmarks on foot or by bicycle. These include Hörnerplatz, a wooden silhouette of a forest elephant and reconstructed burial mounds. There is also history to discover along the Ochsenweg in Niehuus: the remains of a small castle can be seen beside the route.
Long-distance routes crossing Harrislee include the Ochsenweg, Gendarmenpfad, Grenzroute and Fördesteig. Hiking and cycling tours around Harrislee follow the coast and pass through the green border region, with views towards the Danish coast. The Grenzroute crosses the German-Danish border thirteen times. There are 40 information points with overview maps along the route, which also passes many sights.
To choose a tour, consider what kind of experience you are looking for: the circular route in the Schäferhaus Foundation Land passes named historical sites, while the Grenzroute is defined by its border crossings and information points. The long-distance routes cover a wider area, while the hiking and cycling tours around Harrislee focus on the coast and border landscape.
Industrial history, theatre and shopping
The Kupfermühle Industrial Museum presents regional industrial history in historic halls. The historic workers’ settlement can also be visited. The Broschmann und Finke Theatre Company is based at the community centre in Harrislee. Its programme includes musicals, children’s theatre and its own show, offering different kinds of cultural evening.
Harrislee’s border shops offer Nordic products, including liquorice, fish specialities and Danish classics. Alongside nature and cultural experiences, they offer a taste of the border region.
The wider destination of Schleswig-Flensburg
The wider destination of Schleswig-Flensburg also includes Haithabu and the Danevirke, which have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since June 2018. In Idstedt, a historic memorial site and a museum provide information about German-Danish history surrounding the uprising of 1848 and the Battle of Idstedt. These topics broaden the picture of the Schleswig-Flensburg destination as a whole.
Discover more destinations
Wassersleben, Eggebek, HĂĽrup, SĂĽderbrarup, Haddeby, GlĂĽcksburg, Oeversee, Maasholm
Back to the wider travel overview: Schleswig-Flensburg.
