Bad Schwartau City and Family Festival
Traditional city and family festival on the market square with stage program, stalls and attractions for the whole family.
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Bad Schwartau
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ℹ️Practical info — Bad Schwartau
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Combine your visit with a trip to the directly adjacent Hanseatic city of Lübeck.
- Use the well-developed bike paths to explore the wooded surroundings of the spa town.
- A visit to the Kurpark is especially recommended in spring during the blooming season.
- Note that a quiet atmosphere is often expected in the spa facilities.
🍽 Food
🍽
Regional fish dishes
Try fresh fish in one of the cozy restaurants in the city center.
🍽
Cafe culture
Enjoy homemade cake in a cafe overlooking the Kurpark.
🍽
Holstein cuisine
Look for traditional Holstein specialties in the classic inns.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Schwartau Factory Outlet
Visit the factory outlet for jams and sweet spreads from the famous local brand.
🛍
Market Square
Stroll through the owner-managed boutiques and shops around the central market square.
🧘
Kurpark by the moor
Relax with a walk around the lake in the extensive spa park.
🧘
Priesterwiese
An idyllic wooded area on the edge of town, first-rate for long, quiet walks.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
1
Bad Schwartau is a prominent spa town in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, situated in the Ostholstein district. It holds the dual distinction of being a state-recognized iodine-brine and moor spa, attracting visitors seeking therapeutic treatments since the discovery of its healing springs in the late 1800s. The Holstein-Therme serves as a modern center for wellness and hydrotherapy. Economically, the town is synonymous with the Schwartauer Werke, an internationally renowned food company specialized in jams, fruit spreads, and muesli bars, whose presence has shaped the local labor market for generations. Geographically, Bad Schwartau acts as a northern gateway to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, providing a serene residential and recreational alternative to the larger neighbor. The town was historically formed by merging the administrative center of Schwartau with the village of Rensefeld. Surrounded by the characteristic Holstein landscape and close to the Baltic Sea coast, it provides a high quality of life with its extensive parks, such as the Riesebusch forest, and a spirited local community engaged in cultural and sporting activities.
- Location: Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
- Top sights: Spa Park · St. Fabian and Sebastian · Bad Schwartau Museum
- Nearby: Lübeck (6 km)
- Population: ~20.169
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Rain mm | 63 | 51 | 47 | 37 | 54 | 67 | 77 | 71 | 55 | 60 | 58 | 66 |
Geography
Facts
- Town rights granted: 1912
- Received 'Bad' (Spa) title: 1913
- Home of Schwartauer Werke since 1899
- Highest elevation: Pariner Berg (72 m)
- Distance to Lübeck: approx. 5 km
- Total area: 17.21 square kilometers
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Bad Schwartau (12)
Frequently asked questions
Why is the place called 'Bad'?
The town is a state-recognized iodine saline spa with a long tradition in spa and wellness culture.
What is the town's most famous product?
Bad Schwartau is world-famous for the jams and fruit spreads produced by the Schwartauer Werke.
How close is the Baltic Sea?
The beaches of the Lübeck Bucht, such as Travemünde or Timmendorfer Strand, are only about 15 to 20 kilometers away.
Are there thermal baths?
Yes, the Holstein Therme features relaxation in iodine saline pools, saunas, and a spacious wellness area.
Can you hike in the Kurpark?
The Kurpark and the adjacent Riesebusch forest offer many level paths for relaxed walks and Nordic walking.
Bad Schwartau: where is it located?
Bad Schwartau is located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
Bad Schwartau: what is there to see?
Highlights include Spa Park, St. Fabian and Sebastian, Bad Schwartau Museum.
Bad Schwartau: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Bad Schwartau: why is it worth visiting?
Bad Schwartau is a prominent spa town in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, situated in the Ostholstein district.
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