natures treasure Bille and Sachsenwald
The fairytale-like Bille valley with its mystical alluvial forests runs along the western side of the Sachsenwald forest. The Bille meanders as a crystal-clear cold-water stream with wild riverside vegetation. On the Doktorbrücke bridge north of Aumühle, you can immerse yourself in the world of the forest river. Kingfishers and dippers live here. There are many stories about the adjacent Sachsenwald forest. The largest contiguous forest area in Schleswig-Holstein is still owned by the Bismarck family. Traces of the old chancellor can be found everywhere here.Hiking trails: Bille hiking trail signposted, Doktorbrücke/Fürstenbrücke bridge
Hiking parking lot: marked in Grande and Ohe
The Sachsenwald forest extends near Aumühle, to the east of Reinbek. In the north-west, Schleswig-Holstein's largest contiguous forest area is bordered by the Bille valley. Between Grande (Grander Mühle) and Reinbek (Reinbeker Mühlenteich), the very clean and strongly meandering river with its steep slopes and forests is protected as one of the most natural habitats in the region.
Very clean watercourse
The nature reserve includes the mouth of the Corbek. In addition to the many streams that flow into the Bille, the adjacent marsh, alluvial and swamp forests are watered by numerous springs rather than by the flooding of the river. As a summer-cool "cold-water stream" with a year-round water temperature below 20 degrees, it is the habitat of rare animals and plants that demand the high standards of a clean watercourse.
Endangered fish such as brown trout, grayling and minnow lay their eggs in the gravel bed. The brook lamprey and the endangered river mussel can be found here, as well as many rare insects such as mayflies and blue-winged damselflies. A total of 20 fish species and almost 80 bird species such as grey wagtails, dippers and kingfishers have been observed in the Billetal. In the adjacent, near-natural beech forests there is a lot of dead wood, which is so important for the forest. 170 species of fungi and more than 330 ferns and flowering plants have been counted. Woodpeckers and stock doves breed in tree hollows.
Natural dynamics
Located south of the glacial boundary, the Billetal valley was formed by glacial meltwater. The natural dynamics of the flowing water have repeatedly reshaped the meandering course of the river. For the most part, the Bille has fast and slow-flowing sections. In contrast to the sometimes steep "impact slopes" on the outside of the river bends, there are flat "gliding banks" on the inside.
The "Doktorbrücke" bridge
A suitable starting point into the Billetal is the "Doktorbrücke". From the A24 via the Witzhave exit, you reach Ohe, where you turn left into "Sachsenwaldau" and drive to the 2nd parking lot. From here you can quickly reach the bridge and the Billewanderweg trail.
Head south to the Fürstenbrücke bridge (1st parking lot in the village). Here you can take the "Fürstenweg" to the left and then turn left again through a section of Sachsenwald forest back to the Doktorbrücke bridge.
Further north, the Bille hiking trail begins at Grande. In the village, head towards Aumühle (L 208 Sachsenwaldstraße) and turn into "Sonnenberg", at the end of which there is a parking area. From here, follow the hiking trail in a north-westerly direction to the Bille. The European long-distance hiking trail (white cross) also runs along here.
The nearby Sachsenwald forest has a total of six hiking trails offering nature and culture. The starting points are the train stations in Friedrichsruh and Aumühle, where there are also parking spaces.
Hiking parking lot: marked in Grande and Ohe
The Sachsenwald forest extends near Aumühle, to the east of Reinbek. In the north-west, Schleswig-Holstein's largest contiguous forest area is bordered by the Bille valley. Between Grande (Grander Mühle) and Reinbek (Reinbeker Mühlenteich), the very clean and strongly meandering river with its steep slopes and forests is protected as one of the most natural habitats in the region.
Very clean watercourse
The nature reserve includes the mouth of the Corbek. In addition to the many streams that flow into the Bille, the adjacent marsh, alluvial and swamp forests are watered by numerous springs rather than by the flooding of the river. As a summer-cool "cold-water stream" with a year-round water temperature below 20 degrees, it is the habitat of rare animals and plants that demand the high standards of a clean watercourse.
Endangered fish such as brown trout, grayling and minnow lay their eggs in the gravel bed. The brook lamprey and the endangered river mussel can be found here, as well as many rare insects such as mayflies and blue-winged damselflies. A total of 20 fish species and almost 80 bird species such as grey wagtails, dippers and kingfishers have been observed in the Billetal. In the adjacent, near-natural beech forests there is a lot of dead wood, which is so important for the forest. 170 species of fungi and more than 330 ferns and flowering plants have been counted. Woodpeckers and stock doves breed in tree hollows.
Natural dynamics
Located south of the glacial boundary, the Billetal valley was formed by glacial meltwater. The natural dynamics of the flowing water have repeatedly reshaped the meandering course of the river. For the most part, the Bille has fast and slow-flowing sections. In contrast to the sometimes steep "impact slopes" on the outside of the river bends, there are flat "gliding banks" on the inside.
The "Doktorbrücke" bridge
A suitable starting point into the Billetal is the "Doktorbrücke". From the A24 via the Witzhave exit, you reach Ohe, where you turn left into "Sachsenwaldau" and drive to the 2nd parking lot. From here you can quickly reach the bridge and the Billewanderweg trail.
Head south to the Fürstenbrücke bridge (1st parking lot in the village). Here you can take the "Fürstenweg" to the left and then turn left again through a section of Sachsenwald forest back to the Doktorbrücke bridge.
Further north, the Bille hiking trail begins at Grande. In the village, head towards Aumühle (L 208 Sachsenwaldstraße) and turn into "Sonnenberg", at the end of which there is a parking area. From here, follow the hiking trail in a north-westerly direction to the Bille. The European long-distance hiking trail (white cross) also runs along here.
The nearby Sachsenwald forest has a total of six hiking trails offering nature and culture. The starting points are the train stations in Friedrichsruh and Aumühle, where there are also parking spaces.
Good to know
Directions & Parking facilities
Geeigneter Startpunkt ins Billetal ist die „Doktorbrücke“. Von der A24 über die Abfahrt Witzhave erreicht man Ohe, wo man im Ort links in die „Sachsenwaldau“ einbiegt und bis zum 2. Parkplatz fährt. Ab hier gelangt man schnell zur Brücke und dem Billewanderweg.
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Organization
Herzogtum Lauenburg Marketing und Service GmbH
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