Up near the shores of the Baltic Sea lies the town of Lensahn — which was also the name of a World War I Imperial Navy ship, by the way.
But, I’m not here to tell the tale of the boat’s tragic end off the coast of Tampa, Florida — I’m here to tell you about all the grand things you’ll find just nine kilometers from Lübeck.
Some of the grandest things to do in Lensahn isn’t anything to see, but to experience. This is a place that truly knows how to show somebody a good time, that’s for sure.
There are two Summer Festivals (one mid-July, the other in August), a Kartoffelfest (Potato Festival) in August, followed by an Herbstfest (Autumn Festival) in September. October is my favorite month of the year — and not just because that’s when Lensahn hosts an Erntedankfest, an Oktoberfest, and an Apfelfest (Apple Festival).
There’s more to Lensahn than just its festivals, mind you. It’s a great place to experience nature, so consider taking a carriage ride past wide open fields, or a horseback ride. Of course, there are regular bike trails and hiking paths, too.
All this activity can make you tired, so after a night resting at a local farmhouse, you’ll be all refreshed to do it all over again.
If you want to do something not all that taxing, come by the Museumshof, a hands-on experience that’ll teach you about all things farming. You could also learn a few things about farming from the Schinkenräucherei, a farm that’s been operating for more than 350 years.
Another must-see place here in Lensahn is Gut Güldenstein, a beautiful Baroque manor house, that now hosts horse shows. It’s a far cry from its medieval beginnings — and once had its very own moat.
And I really loved the Church of St. Catherine, a pretty brick church that’s quite lovely in the fading autumn light.
The autumn weather is great for hiking along the Waldlehrpfad, a short 1km hiking trail with information board detailing much of the region’s natural history. Too short? Venture a bit further on the 2.4km Nature Trail, passing along ponds and fruit trees.
Then again, you could always try to find some more Bronze and Iron Age burial mounds — it beats trying to find the shipwreck of the other Lehnsahn, doesn’t it? ;-)