Stormarn

Stormarn is a rural district in southern Schleswig-Holstein that spreads between Hamburg and Lübeck across woods, meadows and river valleys. The district capital Bad Oldesloe sits centrally in the territory, while towns like Reinbek and Ahrensburg lie to the west closer to Hamburg city limits.

The Saxons settled this region in the early Middle Ages and gave the land its name. When Schleswig-Holstein joined Prussia in 1867, this territory became a separate administrative district within the new province.

The name Stormarn comes from the Saxon tribe Sturmarii who lived in the land between Elbe and Trave rivers. Today residents and visitors use the network of paths through woods and river valleys for walks and bike rides, with old manor houses and castles appearing regularly in the countryside.

Regular train connections run from Bad Oldesloe to Hamburg and other towns in the region. The flat topography suits bike tours well, and a network of country roads connects the settlements to each other.

A former railway line between Elmshorn and Bad Oldesloe now serves as a fruit learning path with more than 160 trees. Walkers can discover different varieties of apples, pears and plums along this route and taste their fruit depending on the season.

Location: Schleswig-Holstein

Inception: October 30, 1867

Capital city: Bad Oldesloe

Elevation above the sea: 34 m

Shares border with: District of Duchy of Lauenburg, Lübeck, Ostholstein, Segeberg District, Hamburg-Mitte, Wandsbek, Bergedorf, Hamburg

Website: https://kreis-stormarn.de

GPS coordinates: 53.75000,10.33000

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:35