Discover Sterley: Church, cycling routes and lakes

Sterley combines church history with opportunities for cycling and waterside experiences. St. John's Church tells a story spanning several centuries; the cycling routes vary in length and character, while Pipersee offers a peaceful experience on the water. This lets you focus your trip on culture, activity or time by the lake.

St. John's Church and its history

The parish of Sterley was first mentioned in records in 1194 and is considered one of the oldest parishes in what later became the Duchy of Lauenburg. St. John's Church was built from fieldstones in the early 13th century. Its wall and ceiling paintings date from different periods; these include a depiction of the Virgin Mary from the late 13th century. There is also a Gothic corpus of Christ on the cross from the 14th century at the altar. The architecture and furnishings thus offer insights into different historical periods: alongside the fieldstone construction, the paintings and Gothic altar piece also draw the eye.

St. John's Church is an open church and welcomes visitors for quiet reflection. Check visiting arrangements before you arrive. Those interested in church art can take in both the architecture and the surviving artworks here.

Cycling: chain of lakes or circular route

An 18-kilometre cycling route runs through the chain of lakes from Salem to Seedorf. It mainly follows paved minor roads as well as surfaced field and hiking paths. There are also a few sandy sections through the woods and small climbs. So, when choosing your route, consider not only the distance but also the surface and terrain: the route does not have a uniform surface throughout.

A longer option is the 48.5-kilometre circular Kirchenroute, which passes through Neu-Sterley. The two routes therefore differ in length: the Salem-to-Seedorf route is described in terms of its surfaces and climbs, while the Kirchenroute is described as a circular route, with its distance and course through Neu-Sterley. These differences can help you plan the cycling portion of your trip around your preferred distance.

Waterside experience at Pipersee

Pipersee near Sterley offers a peaceful experience on the water for canoeists and rowers, along wooded shores. This provides a different kind of activity alongside the cycling routes: rather than following a route over different paths, the focus here is on the water and the wooded shores. The lake is especially appealing to travellers looking to pair Sterley with a peaceful activity close to nature.

The wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg

Within the wider destination of the Duchy of Lauenburg, Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park provides a broader landscape setting. It is Schleswig-Holstein's oldest nature park and covers 474 square kilometres around Lake Ratzeburg and Schaalsee. The park includes around 40 lakes, deep deciduous forests and rare animal species. These regional dimensions add another perspective on the landscape to the specific activities in and around Sterley.

Cyclists can also find regional routes in Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park, including the ADFC-certified long-distance cycle routes Alte Salzstraße and Via Scandinavica. The latter is part of the Way of St. James. If you plan your trip beyond individual routes in Sterley, these long-distance routes can provide an additional reference point for exploring the Duchy of Lauenburg further.

Discover more destinations: Groß Disnack, Siebenbäumen, Kittlitz, Hohenhorn, Ziehten, Gudow, Aumühle, Breitenfelde.

Back to the destination overview: Duchy of Lauenburg.