Reinbek is a just a stone’s throw east of Hamburg, but you would be mistaken to think of it as a suburb. The town has been around since at least 1226.
It is clear, of course, that much of what you see here is geared toward tourism from the big city.
The town’s major sightseeing attraction is Reinbek Castle, built between 1572 and 1576. Its Dutch renaissance style is familiar in the areas around Hamburg. You will appreciate that the castle was completely renovated in the 1980s, creating a picture-perfect location for folk festivals, art fairs and cultural events, as well as business conferences, receptions and commercial exhibitions.
Two golf courses sprawl on either side of Reinbek. The Wentorf-Reinbeker, which started out as a nine-hole course in 1901, has offered a full 18 holes in a beautifully landscaped area east of town since 1912. Closer to Hamburg in the west, the Golf Club Gut Glinde is more modern if somewhat less scenic, with 33 holes to play and first-class training facilities, open daily, even in winter.
If your recreational interests tend more to water than land, you can find swimming opportunities here, too. The Tonteichbad is a natural outdoor springs pool, surrounded by the beauty of the Saxon Forest (Sachsenwald). It is open from May through September, featuring a water slide, sunning area and one- and three-meter diving boards. On the other hand, the Freizeitbad offers five indoor pools, a sauna area, solarium, and bistro for fun the year round.
One new feature opened in 2008 to better serve visitors from the city — an RV park. Recreational vehicles and motor homes can now access convenient disposal facilities and electrical hookups, within a two-minute walk of a grocery store, restaurant, and sports and leisure park. Nearby cycle paths lead through the Saxon Forest and Billetal Nature Reserve.
