Warnau: A Rundling and its surrounding landscape

Warnau is shaped by the preserved form of its historic village center and the protected areas in its surroundings. The wider destination of Plön adds further landscape and cultural themes. This helps you distinguish Warnau’s local character from the attractions and sights of Plön District when choosing a destination for your stay.

The Rundling as a local focal point

Warnau’s historic center is arranged around a village green and a pond. At the same time, the village preserves the characteristic form of a Rundling, a circular village layout. The term describes the shape of the village; the village green and pond refer to the design of the village center. If you are interested in historic village settings and traditional settlement forms, Warnau offers a tangible cultural point of interest.

Lakes and protected areas nearby

Warnau is located near the Bothkamper See Landscape Protection Area and the Hochfelder See/Lütjensee Nature Reserve. Along with Bothkamper See, Hochfelder See and Lütjensee are also part of the Upper Eider Natura 2000 area. The designations refer to different types of protected area: Bothkamper See is part of the landscape protection area, while Hochfelder See/Lütjensee is part of the nature reserve; all three lakes are included in the Natura 2000 area.

Plön: Lakes, coast and nature park

In the wider destination of Plön, the landscape stretches from lakes to the Baltic Sea coast. Plön District lies between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland and has around 50 kilometers of Baltic Sea coastline. The district includes around 80 lakes. Großer Plöner See covers 29 km², while Selenter See covers 22 km². Large parts of the district belong to Holstein Switzerland Nature Park, which spans 75,000 hectares and offers opportunities to experience nature and see rare animals. These regional highlights can help you identify your interests for the trip: lakes, coast and nature park each offer a different focus.

Activities on the water and on land

Along the Baltic Sea coast of Plön District, you can swim, sail, surf, dive, take boat trips, go on offshore sailing trips, join cutter boat excursions and fish from the shore. Inland waterways offer further options: you can explore the Schwentine Water Trail in Plön District by canoe, and the lakes can also be navigated by sailboat or excursion boat. Coastal activities and inland-water tours therefore offer different ways to experience the region.

The gently rolling landscape of Plön District is well suited to cycling and hiking. Cycling routes include a signposted network spanning 850 km, as well as developed Nordic walking trails. As routes may change, it is advisable to check the current route details before setting out. One longer option is the two-day “Baltic Coast – Holstein Switzerland” cycling tour: it starts in Kiel and runs via Plön and Lütjenburg to the Baltic Sea coast, making it particularly suitable for pedelecs. Details of this route may also change.

The bathing area on Prinzeninsel in Plön has a gently sloping sandy beach around 100 meters wide. It is accessible only on foot or by bicycle. Visitor facilities may change seasonally, so bear this in mind when planning your visit.

Cultural attractions in Plön District

Plön Castle stands above the lake of the same name in Holstein Switzerland and is the landmark of Plön District. Groups can book customized combined guided tours in the Plön Castle area. These combine visits to the Prinzenhaus, the castle park and the castle grounds; check the booking arrangements in advance. Two audio-guided tours also lead through Plön’s old town and the castle area. They are free to use on a smartphone and each lasts around 20 minutes. Check their current availability before your trip.

Other destinations in the district offer their own cultural highlights. Gut Panker is over 500 years old, is located in Plön District and is now open to visitors; the estate was formerly managed by the Rantzau family. Lütjenburg is also in Plön District and is known for its historic town center. When deciding where to go, you can compare Warnau’s historic village center with the distinct castle, estate and town attractions of the wider Plön destination.

Discover more destinations: Schellhorn, Lehmkuhlen, Bothkamp.

Back to the wider travel overview: Preetz-Land.