Welcome to St. Michaelisdonn

St. Michaelisdonn

The "bridge between the marsh and the moor" – as St. Michaelisdonn is also symbolically known – offers both its natives and its visitors a very varied landscape. Close to its southern fringe, there rises to a height of 33 metres – unusually high for local Dithmarschen comparisons – in the middle of the otherwise flat marsh, the Spiekerberg, which in clear weather affords wonderful views over the lowlands of the Elbe estuary.

Visibly for all for miles around, sited on the Kleve, is the Dutch windmill "Edda", which dates back to 1842. This is regarded as the symbol of St. Michaelisdonn and is just as significant for the community as the Freemasons' Museum. The latter is unique in Germany and with its display area of 350 m² it is the third largest museum of its kind in Europe!

Waiting for cycling enthusiasts and railway fans is an unforgettable experience on the "trolley railway", inaugurated in 2004. Some 10 kilometres of track lead from St. Michaelisdonn, past the marshy meadows and wind-power farms typical for the west coast right into the town of Marne. Indeed, on a trip with the wind, you can even call on a sail to assist!

The little airfield in Hopen is operated by the Dithmarschen flying club. Many sports aircraft and gliders take off and land here, including circular flights inviting you to a bird's eye view of the southern marshes and over the Elbe, and out to Germany's only island in the high seas, Heligoland. Not far away, the "Golf Club am Donner Kleve" maintains a golfing facility with an 18-hole golf course and a nine-hole short course. In this wonderful landscape offering leisure and relaxation by the Kleve, there is also the Hohenkamp cyclists' hostel and the adjoining camping site.

Eddelak

Eddelak is located between St. Michaelisdonn and Brunsbüttel, and is characterised mainly by agriculture. Its outstanding features are the church, built in 1740, with its wooden bell-tower, and the Dutch mill, dating from 1865, "Gott mit uns", which is also licensed to perform registry office weddings. Both holidaymakers and newly-arrived residents find their way into the lively and friendly "village life" very quickly.

Dingen

The history of the Dingen community is closely associated with the Friedrichshof. The Friedrichshof was a noble estate for a short period after 1576, but it was taken over by the King of Denmark in 1579 (South Dithmarschen was Königsland) and initially used as the seat of the regally-appointed governor. Later, the "marsh- and moorlands" were divided into plots and taken over by the community of Dingen.

Dingen is especially popular with holidaymakers due to its direct access to the North Sea coast cycle and hiking trail and its proximity to the Kleve, offering magnificent hiking and walking tours. Christianslust Forest is also in the immediate vicinity. There are picnic areas, some of them under cover, where you can take a break during your walk. Hopen airfield and the golf club are located on the St. Michaelisdonn border. With its youth, cultural and activity centres, the community also offers residents and visitors alike a wide range of sports facilities – there is even a competition-size boules terrain, a multi-purpose playing field – not just for football or basketball – a playground, a youth centre and a German Red Cross centre, in which many events are held.

Averlak

Averlak lies directly beside the Kiel Canal. The Kudensee ferry connects the District of Dithmarschen with the District of Steinburg. Due to the limited amount of land suitable for building (to the east, the moor, to the west, the swampy marshes), almost every house was built next to the three-kilometre-long road through the village, which lies on a strip of earth "aver de Lake" ("over the water") and gave the village its name. There is a lively community spirit here, and especially worthy of mention is the fact that the village of Averlak boasts two football clubs – unique in the district. 

We are her to help you! In the Tourist Information Office Eddelak-St. Michaelisdonn we offer you information about the region, room reservations and a comprehensive selection of brochures and leaflets. We are happy to answer your questions during our opening hours, which are shown below.

Hours of opening
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 am – 1 pm 
Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 am – 4 pm   

How to reach us
Directly in the former railway station building, now the Bahnhofs-Reisebüro
Bahnhofstr. 26
25693 St. Michaelisdonn
Tel.: 04853 – 80 73 05
E-mail:  tourismus@st-michaelisdonn.de

How to reach St. Michaelisdonn

By rail
Your railway station for our communities is St. Michaelisdonn. From the south, travel to Hamburg Hbf (main station). or Hamburg-Altona and take a train for Westerland. Change in Itzehoe, in some cases also in Heide (Holst.), into a train to St. Michaelisdonn. Please pay special attention to train connections.  Your hosts will be pleased to meet you at the station by prior arrangement.

By car
From the south, take the A 23 motorway from Hamburg in the direction of Itzehoe. Then take the B 5 signposted Brunsbüttel, over the high bridge over the Kiel Canal, then take the first exit signposted Eddelak and St. Michaelisdonn. Alternatively, you can follow the A 23 to Schafstedt, and from there drive via Süderhastedt – Frestedt to St. Michaelisdonn.

By air
The closest international airport is Hamburg. With a light aircraft you can land directly at the Hopen airfield in St. Michaelisdonn.

By bicycle
You are visiting our holiday region with your own bicycle and travelling with it. From the south, it is best to follow the North Sea coastal cycle trail. This leads directly through our communities. If you prefer to reach us by train, bringing your cycle with you, our railway station is St. Michaelisdonn. Please bear in mind that the German Railway only transports bicycles in Intercity and local trains. For Intercity trains, you will have to make a reservation for your cycle, so please make the necessary arrangements well in advance, as the space available for cycles is limited.