Regions and Cities of Germany

Schleswig-Holstein is a peninsula to the north of Germany bordering with Denmark. Bathed by the both the North and Baltic seas, this federal state has barely three million inhabitants and its economy is based on trade with the Scandinavian countries.

The region's main attraction lies in its varied and rich wilderness; such is the case of the "Wadden Sea National Park", the salt marshes, or "Holstein Switzerland", a set of lakes and valleys.

The state's capital is Kiel, is situated approximately 90 km north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, and the southwestern shore of the Baltic Sea, Kiel has become one of the main maritime centres of Germany. Kiel For instance, the city is known for a variety of international sailing events, including the annual "Kieler Woche" (Kiel Week), which is the biggest and most famous sailing regatta in the world. Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the German Navy's fleet, and continues to be a major high-tech shipbuilding center. Moreover, Kiel is an important sea transport hub, with many passenger ferries to Sweden, Norway and other countries as well as cruise ships using its harbor.

Another important city of the region is Lübeck, whose medieval buildings and structures have been listed as a World Heritage Treasure by UNESCO. The most interesting sights are found in the old quarter (Altstadt ), an oval shaped island formed by the waters of the Trave River and the old city moats. It is also worthwhile visiting the Helgoland, Sylt, Föhr and Amrun Islands, famous for their red cliffs, as well as the Schleswig area with its beautiful cathedral: here lies the Bordesholm altar, masterpiece of late Gothic images.