Top Tourist Attractions in Schleswig & Meldorf

 Schleswig

Events: Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival throughout the region (Jul/Aug);

Wikinger-Tage (Aug every other year).

The main seat of the Vikings, Schleswig became a bishop’s see as early as 947, and from 1544 to 1713 it was the residence of the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf, once related to the rulers of Denmark and Russia. They resided in Schloss Gottorf, a castle with four wings which now houses the Schleswig-

Holsteinisches Landesmuseum (regional museum) as well as northern Germany’s most famous archaeological museum, the Archäologisches

Landesmuseum, exhibiting the Moorleichen, prehistoric corpses preserved in peat. It is also worth seeing the two-storey chapel (1590).

The Dom (cathedral) was built in stages between the 12th and 15th centuries. Its largest treasure is the Bordesholmer Altar, a triptych altar carved by Hans Br・gemann in 1514–21. A masterpiece of Gothic carving, it is 12 m (39 ft) high and comprises 392 figures; the only one to look straight at the visitor is the sculptor himself, bearded and hat askew (in the house of Abraham and Melchisede).

Visitors can also walk around the historic fishermen’s district of Holm, and visit the Wikinger-Museum Haithabu, about 4 km (2 miles) from the town centre. The fortifications have survived in the grounds of this historic Viking settlement.

The museum is housed in a modern building, which looks like an upturned boat. Exhibits include the depiction of Viking life, models of boats, jewellery and everyday items.

Schloss Gottorf/Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landes Museum/Archäologisches

Landes Museum

Tel (04621) 81 30

Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm daily; Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm Tue–Fri (to 5pm Sat & Sun).

Wikinger-Museum Haithabu

Tel (04621) 81 32 22

Timings: Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm daily; Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm Tue–Sun.

 Meldorf

Meldorf has preserved the Dithmarscher Dom, its cathedral, a 13th-century basilica with an exterior extensively rebuilt in the 19^th century. The vaulting in the transept, resembling a cupola, is decorated with Gothic frescos, depicting the legends of saints Catherine, Christopher and Nicholas. There is a richly decorated dividing wall (1603) and a grand triptych of the Crucifixion (c.1520).