Saustrup offers a specific historical point of reference: the history of the medieval Monkhowswisch manor farm and a succession of farms whose predecessor has been documented since the 14th century. At the same time, Saustrup is one of the municipalities that lies wholly or partly within Schlei Nature Park. This gives trip planning two scales to consider: the history of the village and the wider natural and cultural region of Schleswig-Flensburg.
A medieval manor farm and its history
Monkhowswisch stood on a natural rise at the confluence of the Saustruper Au and the former Hagenbek. The medieval manor farm is thought to have been associated with Mohrkirchen Monastery. The village’s history thus brings together a specific location and a possible connection to the monastery; the connection remains a possibility.
The village history also names Flarupgaard as the successor to a farm documented since the 14th century. This places a medieval manor farm alongside a succession of farms with a predecessor whose history can be dated. The two references offer different perspectives on Saustrup’s history: the site of a former farm and the continuity revealed through a successor farm.
Schlei Nature Park and the landscape
Schlei Nature Park provides the wider landscape setting. The Angeln section of the park is characterized by a small-scale agricultural landscape; the wider nature park also includes the Schlei as a waterway and the Baltic Sea coast. Rolling hills, forests, hedgerow landscapes, and fields of rapeseed and grain are among the landscape features, as are sandy beaches and bathing coves. The Schlei’s brackish-water areas provide a habitat for numerous endangered bird species. Together, these descriptions show the range of landscapes in the nature park without attributing them solely to Saustrup.
Nature and trails in the Schleswig-Flensburg travel region
The wider Schleswig-Flensburg travel region offers a variety of nature-related attractions. More than 130 bird species can be observed on Holnis, including around 65 breeding species. Geltinger Birk covers 773 hectares and is the largest nature reserve in Schleswig-Flensburg district. It has well-maintained trails and guided walks that share information about the local flora and fauna.
Guided nature tours are also offered in Schlei Nature Park. The Wikinger-Friesen-Weg, the Ochsenweg, and 15 signposted themed cycling routes run through the landscape. One specific cycling route in the wider travel region is the 25-kilometer SchleiUferTörn: this circular route goes around the middle section of the Schlei and begins in Arnis. Regional nature and cycling can thus be explored as distinct themes without equating them with Saustrup’s local farm history.
Historical themes in Schleswig-Flensburg
The history of the wider Schleswig-Flensburg travel region also extends beyond Saustrup’s farm history. Haithabu and the Danewerk have been UNESCO World Heritage sites since June 2018; more than 25 kilometers of the Danewerk rampart remain. The Idstedt historical memorial site and museum provide information about the German-Danish history surrounding the uprising of 1848 and the Battle of Idstedt. These themes provide a regional historical context alongside Saustrup’s specific farm-related history.
Discover more destinations: Ulsnis, Wagersrott, Loit, Nottfeld, Rügge, Stolk, Scheggerott, Mohrkirch.
See the overview of the wider travel region: Süderbrarup.
