District of Duchy of Lauenburg, Administrative district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
The District of Duchy of Lauenburg is an administrative area in the southeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, located east of Hamburg and south of Lübeck. The territory consists of woodlands, farmland and several lakes forming a varied countryside between two major cities.
The territory belonged to Denmark during medieval times and later became a duchy before passing to Prussia in 1864. After the Second World War it became part of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
The name recalls the dukes who once governed here, leaving traces in place names and architectural styles throughout the countryside. Visitors today encounter Low German language traditions and red brick buildings typical of northern regions.
Ratzeburg serves as the administrative seat and sits centrally within the area, while other towns like Geesthacht and Schwarzenbek spread along the Elbe river. The region is best explored by car since many villages and natural areas lie scattered across the countryside.
The border with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern partly follows old trade routes that enabled commerce between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea during medieval times. Some villages still show remnants of these historic paths in the form of old bridges and road junctions.
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