Schleswig Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Schleswig Overview
Schleswig takes it name from the Schlei, an inlet of the Baltic sea at the end of which it sits, and "vik" or "vig" which means bay in the old Viking language and modern Danish language. Schleswig or Slesvig therefore means bay of the Schlei. (There is also a suggestion that the state's namesake and the term Slesvig originated from a tribe of West Slavs who lived in "Slavsvick" between the 5th century and 10th century AD.)
Where to stay in Schleswig?
Check out our selection of hand-selected and quality Schleswig vacation rentals and holiday apartments.
Things to See in Schleswig
Schleswig Cathedral (1134), with the tomb of King Frederick I of Denmark
Gottorf castle (built 1161), former residence of the dukes
Holm: old fishing village at the Schlei shore
Hedeby, Viking settlement
[ source: wikipedia ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Schleswig
Schleswig harbor
[ source: Wikipedia]
Popular Points of Interest in and near Schleswig
Gottdorf Palace
[ source: Museum website ]
Gottdorf Palace is the ancestral home of the Holstein-Gottorp branch of the House of Oldenburg. It is situated on an island in the Schlei, about 40 km from the Baltic Sea, and was first settled as an estate in 1161 as the residence of Bishop Occo of Schleswig when his former residence was destroyed. After the ducal lineage of Gottorp were forced to move out in 1702, the palace, now occupied by the Danish, fell into disuse and disrepair in 1713 under the reign of Frederick IV of Denmark. Pieces of furniture, art and other interior were gradually moved out of the palace, and the structures were used both as Danish and Prussian barracks in the 19th century.
During World War II, the estate was used as a displaced persons camp. Since 1947, the palace has been renovated and restored through a series of efforts. The restoration was considered complete in 1996. The palace is now owned by a foundation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein and houses the State Art and Cultural History Museum and the State Archeological Museum.
Hours: April - October: daily 10 am - 6pm. November - March: Tuesday - Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday, Sunday & holidays 10am - 5pm.
Admission to all museums Adults 8 €, Concessions 5 €.
Schleswig Cathedral
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Schleswig Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of St. Peter at Schleswig, is the main church of Schleswig and was the cathedral of the Bishop of Schleswig until the diocese was dissolved in 1624. It is now the church of a Lutheran bishop and ranks among the most important architectural monuments of Schleswig-Holstein. The foundation stone of this impressive building was laid in 1134. Schleswig’s cathedral is famous above all for its three-wing Bordesholm Altar – a masterpiece by Hans Brüggemann – and the Schwahl cloister. It’s also well worth visiting the viewing platform where you look out from a height of 65 metres.
Hedeby Viking Museum (Wikinger Museum Haithabu)
[ source: Museum website ]
The Hedeby Viking Museum (Wikinger Museum Haithabu) is a museum near the site of Hedeby, a former medieval city in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany focusing on the Viking Age history of the region. While the region is now in modern Germany, it was once the oldest city in Denmark until it was ceded in 1864. The museum features reconstructions of various Viking Age dwellings, ships, and houses numerous artifacts discovered during the ongoing archaeological research of the area.
Hours: April - October: daily 9am - 5pm. November - March Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 4pm.
Admission: Adults 6 €, Concessions 3.50 €, Family Card 13 €.
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Schleswig. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Homepage of Schleswig: Schleswig (official home page)
- Wikipedia: Schleswig
More about the History of Schleswig
The Viking settlement of Hedeby, located south of the modern town, was first mentioned in 804. It was a powerful settlement in the Baltic region, dominating the area for more than 200 years. In 1050, following several destructions, the population was moved to the opposite shore of the Schlei, becoming the city of Schleswig. In 1066 Hedeby was finally destroyed, and Schleswig remained as a part of the Danish kingdom.
In 1544 the castle Gottorf became the residence of the local rulers. The dukes of Gottorf were vassals of the Danish kings and ruled over much of present day Schleswig-Holstein. In 1721, when the Great Northern War ended, the dukes of Gottorf lost their power and their land became Danish crown land. After the Second Schleswig War (1864), Schleswig was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia.
[ source: wikipedia ]
What makes this Live Like a German Schleswig Travel Guide special...
This Schleswig travel guide provides you with an overview of Schleswig, Schleswig pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Schleswig destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
