The town hall and traces of the fortress give Krempe a distinctive historical character, while circular routes offer views of marshland, dikes and drainage channels. When planning, it helps to distinguish between a short walk through the historic town center, several five-kilometer circular routes and longer paths through the marsh. This lets you tailor your stay to your preferred focus: local history, landscape or both.

Renaissance, Church and Traces of the Fortress

Built in 1570, the town hall is one of Schleswig-Holstein’s notable Renaissance buildings. St. Peter’s Church is also architecturally striking: the three-aisled church is considered a well-preserved Hansen church. F. C. Heylmann built it from 1828 to 1832 to plans by Christian Frederik Hansen. Its tower combines simple Neoclassical forms with a lantern.

The history of Krempe’s fortress can be traced at several points around the town. In its final form, it had six bastions and two ravelins; the wall was 4.5 meters high and the moat 25 meters wide. The moat in the town park preserves a section of the former fortress moat. Mühlenberg marks the site of the former southeastern bastion.

Circular Walk 1, “Historic Town Center,” covers 1.5 kilometers through streets that formed Krempe’s town center during the fortress period. Those interested in the historic town layout will find this a shorter route than the five-kilometer circular walks.

Marshland on Foot and by Bike

Krempe lies in the Kremper Marsch, within the Elbe marshes north of the Lower Elbe. The flat landscape and expansive marshland views also shape the choice of routes. The 10-kilometer Stör Hiking Trail is a circular route through flat marshland. Highlights include far-reaching views over the Stör’s meandering course from the dikes, wetland vegetation, a historic drainage pumping station dating from 1884, and a bird resting area on the outer floodplain beyond the dike.

Circular Hiking Trail 3, “Around Krempe,” is a five-kilometer loop on the outskirts. It offers expansive views across the marsh and changing perspectives on Krempe’s skyline of towers. Two other routes are also five kilometers long, but pass through different landscapes: Circular Hiking Trail 4, “Along the Au to Süderau,” follows a historic remnant of the Kremper Au dike to Süderau and returns along the left bank. Circular Hiking Trail 5, “Around Schmerland,” passes through the fields of neighboring Grevenkop, between rows of trees and the Schmerlander Wettern drainage channel. The same distance here offers different route themes.

The Kremper Marsch also offers a clear guide for cycling trips: it is flat, with few notable climbs. Cycle paths lead out of Krempe alongside state and county roads. A section of the Monk’s Way also runs through the Krempermarsch and Krempe.

More Destinations and Events

Another place to visit is Krempe’s heated outdoor swimming pool, near the school and the municipal sports center. Flag swinging in Krempe is considered a regionally significant event in Steinburg district. Together with the town hall, church and fortress sites, it shows a different side of Krempe from the routes through the marsh and river landscape.

Discover More Destinations

Discover More Destinations: Poyenberg, Holstenniendorf, Wulfsmoor, Borsfleth, Puls, Neuendorf-Sachsenbande, Itzehoe, Wilster.

See the main travel overview: Steinburg.