Lebrade: Baroque Church and Pond Landscape

Lebrade can be discovered as a destination with varied cultural and landscape features, from its Baroque village church to the Lebrader Teiche bird sanctuary. When looking for a hotel, this distinction can help you decide what matters most: are you primarily interested in architectural history or a distinctive wetland landscape? Gut Rixdorf offers another architectural perspective. The wider Plön destination also adds coastal, lake and nature themes.

Church and historic architectural styles

Lebrade Church was first mentioned in 1240. It is a Baroque brick building with a 45-metre-high tower and forms the centrepiece of a traditional village setting that has been preserved. The year 1240 refers to the first mention, not the year it was built. For those interested in culture, the brickwork, Baroque style and tower height offer specific points of interest; at the same time, the church is at the heart of the traditional village setting described here.

At Gut Rixdorf, different architectural details take centre stage. The gatehouse is 99 metres long; the listed thatched buildings have largely retained their historic form. The measurement refers to the gatehouse, while the preserved historic appearance applies to the thatched buildings. The architectural themes therefore differ: here, the gatehouse and the buildings’ preserved form are defining features, while the church is distinguished by its brick construction, Baroque style and tower.

The pond landscape of the Lebrader Teiche

The Lebrader Teiche bird sanctuary covers 146 hectares and originated as a carp-pond landscape in the late 17th century. Today, this wetland is an important moulting and resting area for rare duck species. This brings together the landscape’s historic use and its present-day importance as a habitat. Wildlife numbers and seasonal conditions can vary.

The wider Plön destination

The Plön district, part of the wider Plön destination, lies between the Baltic Sea and the Holstein Switzerland region and has around 50 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. The district includes around 80 lakes, including Lake Großer Plöner See, covering 29 km², and Lake Selenter See, covering 22 km². Großer Plöner See is therefore larger in area than Selenter See. The coast and lakes are a different landscape focus from the ponds of the Lebrader Teiche.

Along the Baltic Sea coast in the Plön district, swimming is possible from Mönkeberg to Sehlendorfer Strand. Sailing, surfing, diving, boat excursions, offshore sailing trips, cutter trips and surf fishing are also available there. The lakes can also be explored by sailboat or excursion boat. The Schwentine water trail can be explored by canoe in the Plön district. Specific providers and timetables may change, so check the latest details if you are planning a particular trip.

For activities on land, the gently rolling landscape of the Plön district offers suitable conditions for cycling and hiking. The signposted cycling network covers 850 km, and there are also developed Nordic walking trails. Large parts of the district are within the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. It covers 75,000 hectares and offers space for nature experiences and rare wildlife. These regional options complement the focus on Lebrade’s church and pond landscape with distinct activities in the wider Plön destination.

Discover more destinations: Dörnick, Bösdorf, Dersau, Ascheberg, Bosau, Wittmoldt, Rantzau, Rathjensdorf

Back to the wider travel guide: Großer Plöner See.