The best running trails around Ecklak

The Old Harbor of Burg looks back on a long history. It was once an important transshipment point for shipping in Dithmarschen and shaped life in the town for many decades. Today, the calm lake is reminiscent of the time of sailors and boatmen and makes the past of the place still palpable.

The Old Country Pharmacy on the market square in Burg Dithmarschen is a historical gem with a unique history that lives on today in a museum. The royally privileged pharmacy was originally founded in 1839 in a roughly 200-year-old building on the market square in Burg. The building is often described as picturesque, with blue wooden doors in a white house surrounded by old linden trees. The pharmacy's historical inventory was later closed (the pharmacy itself closed in 2010) and reconstructed as a pharmacy museum on the upper floor of the local history museum, DITMARSIUM (Große Mühlenstraße 6), and opened to the public.

The interior of the ring wall is occupied by the old Burg cemetery. The castle is associated with a legend according to which, in 1145 AD, Count Rudolf of Stade and his wife Walburga were murdered by peasants who had treacherously entered the castle. The old cemetery has been located within the historic ramparts of Bökelnburg since 1818. The graves and cemetery paths are situated within the ring wall. The unique combination of an early medieval defensive structure and a place of final rest makes this cemetery a historically and scenically significant site. The high, tree-covered rampart encircles the cemetery like a natural protective cloak. The only entrance gate of the former castle was probably located on the site of the present-day cemetery chapel.

Bökelnburg Castle and its cemetery form an exceptional and historically significant ensemble in Burg. Bökelnburg is one of the best-preserved early medieval ringforts in Schleswig-Holstein and is considered the namesake of the town of Burg. It was probably built at the end of the 8th or beginning of the 9th century and served as an important defensive fortification and refuge for the Saxon population against raids by Vikings, Slavs, and Franks. It is an impressive earthwork, which still stands approximately six meters high. The site is strategically located on the high edge of the geest (glacial upland), offering a panoramic view across the Wilster marshland and the Kiel Canal. A circular path runs along the top of the rampart, providing beautiful vistas.

Before Burg had a modern central water supply, public wells like the Bauern-Soot (Farmers' Well) were vital for the population, especially for the farmers (hence the name "Bauern-Soot"). 1839/40: A pump was installed. Its use was regulated: Each person received a key to open the lock on the pump handle. 1910: A new wooden pump handle was acquired. 1922: This was replaced by an iron pump.

The Kudensee pumping station is an important technical structure in Schleswig-Holstein, which was built in 1895 during the construction of the Kiel Canal. It is used to drain the surrounding marshlands and ensures that the water from the catchment area is drained into the canal. The catchment area covers around 7,978 hectares. The pumping station was newly built in 2003/2004 and renovated in 2022 to meet current technical requirements. It has three pumps with a total discharge capacity of 6.0 m³/s, each of which can pump 2.0 m³/s. These powerful pumps ensure effective drainage and flood protection for the region. Kudensee itself is a small community in the Steinburg district, which is known not only for the pumping station but also for its attractive surroundings. The region around Lake Kudensee is an important nature reserve that provides habitat for a variety of bird species and rare plants. The reed zones and wet meadows in particular are important biotopes for numerous waders and water birds as well as protected plant species.

The outer dike of St. Margarethen is located near the Elbe and is now an important bird sanctuary. Originally, this area was part of a dike system that protected the hinterland from flooding. Over time, the harbor creek became increasingly silted up and port operations were discontinued. Today, the outer dike provides an important habitat for numerous bird species and is a popular destination for nature observation and cycling tours. The outer dike and the surrounding area are ideal for hikes and bike rides along the Elbe, with wonderful views of the passing ships. Historically, the area was also the site of a pilot station, but this was not rebuilt after a fire in 1902.

Consider the wind direction before running.. :)