The best traffic-free bike rides in Naturpark Schlei

Danewerk, former fortification from the Slavic and Viking era.

All sorts of interesting facts about the history of the city of Schleswig

Short stop and continue

Viking Museum Haithabu – A Window into the World of the Norsemen The Viking Museum Haithabu in Busdorf is one of the most important archaeological museums in Germany and a real highlight. The exhibition building presents spectacular archaeological finds, models, and multimedia installations that bring the life of the Vikings between the 8th and 11th centuries to life. Seven authentically reconstructed buildings vividly show how people lived back then – from everyday life to craftsmanship. Since 2018, Haithabu and the Danewerk have been a UNESCO World Heritage site – a testament to their historical significance. 🕒 Opening Hours & Prices Museum: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission: Adults €9, Children €3, Families €19, Reduced €7. Café Haithabu: Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM – ideal for a break with a view of the Haddebyer Noor. The museum is located in the middle of a nature reserve with ramparts, burial mounds, and hiking trails. Popular routes lead, for example, from Busdorf or Holm to the settlement and offer great views of the Schlei and Schleswig Cathedral. https://haithabu.de/

The castle houses Schleswig-Holstein's most important museums and is involved in a wide range of cultural events. In addition to changing exhibitions (including those by contemporary artists), theater performances in the courtyard and concerts are held at irregular intervals. The entire grounds and many of the interior rooms are open to visitors. Some of the castle's original furnishings have been preserved and can be viewed as part of the museum tours. Of particular note are the festive Hirschsaal (Stag Hall) from 1591 and the two-story Renaissance chapel. The castle is considered the most important secular building in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

At the beginning of 1945, more and more refugees from the eastern territories of the German Reich arrived in Schleswig, their number rising to almost 18,000 by the summer. Gottorf, like many of the country's residences, was used as a temporary reception camp, and several hundred refugees were housed in the castle.[31] In the post-war period, the entire complex was made available to the Schleswig-Holstein State Museums from 1948 onwards.

After the war of 1848, the Danes first set up a hospital and then a barracks in the castle,[22] in order to be able to operate more effectively against the insurgents in Schleswig-Holstein. The building was adapted to the new needs, and the interior lost much of its once significant furnishings. The former state rooms and ducal apartments were converted into dormitories and dining rooms. The outbuildings were demolished and replaced by extensive stables, and the defensive structures were demolished. Gottorf remained a barracks[22] when it fell to Prussia in 1867 as a result of the Second Schleswig War, and it retained this function until 1945.

Subsequently, Gottorf became the center of power of the Dukes of Schleswig and was repeatedly at the center of political conflicts. In 1283, the young Duke Waldemar IV of Schleswig was imprisoned in the castle for a time by the Danish King Eric V. In 1329, Gottorf was besieged for the first time (unsuccessfully) by a coalition of Jutland nobles in their fight against Count Gerhard III of Holstein, who had served as Duke for several years.[6] In June 1340, the castle was transferred as a pledge into the permanent possession of the Counts of Holstein from the House of Schauenburg,[7] who resided in Gottorf until their extinction in 1459. Initially as counts, after Count Gerhard VI was invested with the duchy by the Danish regent Margaret I in 1386[8], then formally again as dukes.[9]