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The Rendsburg railway high bridge over the Kiel Canal

📍 Sights

Rendsburg on the Kiel Canal: high bridge, transporter bridge & old town

The canal town par excellence: Rendsburg lies right on the Kiel Canal and impresses with its mighty railway high bridge, a unique transporter bridge and a canal tunnel. Plus a fine old town. About half an hour from our guesthouse.

If one place in the region stands for the Kiel Canal, it is Rendsburg. The district town lies at the narrowest point between the North Sea and the Baltic, right on the canal, and unites several technical landmarks: a mighty railway high bridge, a unique transporter bridge and a canal tunnel. Add a lovely old town and an eventful history as a fortress and garrison town. From our guesthouse in Liesbüttel it is about half an hour by car.

Proud town of Rendsburg

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inhabitants

And rumour has it that on some days more ships pass beneath the high bridge than cars drive along many a street. Counting is pointless, for no sooner has one gone through than the next is already round the bend.

Rendsburg at a glance

  • A district town in Rendsburg-Eckernförde, right on the Kiel Canal
  • Around 31,572 inhabitants, at the narrowest point between the seas
  • The railway high bridge of 1913 with its famous track loop
  • A unique transporter bridge beneath the high bridge
  • A canal tunnel for cars and pedestrians with long escalators
  • About 25 to 30 kilometres from Hanerau-Hademarschen

The canal structures

Rendsburg high bridgethe landmark

The railway high bridge of 1913 spans the canal at around sixty-eight metres. Because the height difference to the station is so great, the line runs through the town in a wide loop, the famous Rendsburg loop. An impressive piece of engineering.

Transporter bridgeunique

A transporter bridge hangs beneath the high bridge, carrying pedestrians and vehicles across the canal in a short time. It is one of only a few in the world and the only one beneath a traffic bridge. Important: operation has been interrupted several times in recent years, so do check the current status before your visit.

Canal tunnel with escalatorsunder the canal

A road tunnel from 1961 and a pedestrian tunnel from 1965 run beneath the canal. The escalators in the pedestrian tunnel were considered the longest in Western Europe when they opened, a curious piece of engineering history.

Ship watchingCanal

Around the high bridge and the transporter bridge you can watch the big ships wonderfully. The Kiel Canal is one of the busiest artificial waterways in the world. More places on ship spotting on the Kiel Canal, and engineering landmarks on railways and bridges on the canal.

Old town and history

Old town with St MarienStroll

Around the old-town market lies the historic old town. St Marien church, begun in 1287, is the oldest building in town, and the old town hall has a carillon.

Christ churchDanish baroque

The Christ church in the Neuwerk quarter was built from 1695 to 1700 as a Danish garrison church, a brick building on the ground plan of a Greek cross with a Schnitger organ from 1716. A Danish, not a Prussian, history.

Jewish MuseumHistory

In the Dr Bamberger House, the former synagogue, is the Jewish Museum Rendsburg, one of the oldest Jewish museums in Germany. It is best to check the opening times beforehand.

History

Rendsburg was documented as early as 1199 and received town rights in 1339. Originally the town lay as an island fortress in the Eider and was developed into a baroque fortress town in the 17th century, with the new town around the parade ground. For a long time Rendsburg was under Danish rule, which still shapes buildings such as the Christ church. The greatest change came with the building of the Kiel Canal, opened in 1895, which runs right through the town. Since then bridges, a tunnel and a ferry have defined the image of Rendsburg. So visitors experience the canal not at the edge of town but right in its midst.

Worthwhile destinations nearby

BornholtCanal

The tiny canal village with steep canal steps and a viewing bench high above the water, lovely and quiet for ship watching.

OldenbüttelFerry

A free canal ferry, the passing place and the Gieselau lock, all on the water and easily reached.

Hanerau-Hademarschen~half hour

The quiet neighbouring village of our guesthouse, with traces of Theodor Storm, the Hanerau estate and a working watermill.

Kiel CanalWaterway

From Rendsburg the canal with its ferries can be explored in both directions, a common thread through the whole region.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Rendsburg?
Rendsburg is the district town of Rendsburg-Eckernförde in Schleswig-Holstein and lies right on the Kiel Canal, at the narrowest point between the North Sea and the Baltic. From our guesthouse in Liesbüttel it is about half an hour.
What is the Rendsburg high bridge?
The railway high bridge of 1913 spans the canal at around sixty-eight metres. Because of the great height difference, the railway line runs through the town in a wide loop, the famous Rendsburg loop.
What is the transporter bridge in Rendsburg?
A ferry hanging beneath the high bridge that carries pedestrians and vehicles across the canal. It is one of only a few in the world and the only one beneath a traffic bridge.
Is the transporter bridge in Rendsburg currently running?
Operation has been interrupted several times in recent years, and it was most recently brought back into service at the end of 2025. As this can change, do check the current status before your visit.
What is the canal tunnel in Rendsburg?
A road tunnel from 1961 and a pedestrian tunnel from 1965 run beneath the canal. The escalators in the pedestrian tunnel were considered the longest in Western Europe when they opened.
Is Rendsburg good for ship watching?
Yes, very good. Around the high bridge and the transporter bridge the big ships pass on one of the busiest waterways in the world.
What is there to see in the old town of Rendsburg?
Around the old-town market lies the historic old town with St Marien church, begun in 1287, and the old town hall with its carillon.
What is the Christ church in Rendsburg?
The Christ church in the Neuwerk quarter is a Danish garrison church from 1695 to 1700, a brick building on the ground plan of a Greek cross with a Schnitger organ from 1716. It has a Danish, not a Prussian, history.
Is there a Jewish museum in Rendsburg?
Yes, in the Dr Bamberger House, the former synagogue, is the Jewish Museum Rendsburg, one of the oldest Jewish museums in Germany. It is best to check the opening times beforehand.
How old is Rendsburg?
Rendsburg was documented in 1199 and received town rights in 1339. Originally the town lay as an island fortress in the Eider.
Why was Rendsburg a fortress town?
In the 17th century Rendsburg was developed into a baroque fortress town, with the new town around the parade ground. For a long time it was under Danish rule.
When was the Kiel Canal opened?
The Kiel Canal was opened in 1895 and runs right through Rendsburg. Since then bridges, a tunnel and the transporter bridge have shaped the image of the town.
How do I get to Rendsburg?
Most conveniently by car, about half an hour from Hanerau-Hademarschen. By train a change in Neumünster is usually needed, so the car is recommended for guests.
Is Rendsburg worth a whole day?
Definitely. The canal structures are a little spread out, plus there is the old town and museums. With the high bridge, transporter bridge, tunnel and a stroll through the old town, a day fills up quickly.
Is Rendsburg suitable for children?
Very much. The big ships, the transporter bridge and the long escalators in the tunnel are a real treat for children. A day full of engineering to marvel at.
What can you do in Rendsburg when it rains?
The Jewish Museum and a stroll through the covered parts of the old town are good options. The canal tunnel is also walkable in any weather.
Can you walk through the canal tunnel?
Yes, there is a separate pedestrian tunnel beneath the canal, with long escalators down and up. The walk through is a small experience in itself.
Is Rendsburg worth a visit with a dog?
Yes, for a walk around the old town and the canal. Museums and the ferry have their own rules, so please follow the local signs.
Is Rendsburg on the Eider or the canal?
On both. Originally the town lay on the Eider, but today it is above all the Kiel Canal, running right through Rendsburg, that shapes the image.
What can you do around Rendsburg?
Rewarding are the canal villages of Bornholt and Oldenbüttel with their ferries, quiet Hanerau-Hademarschen and of course the canal itself with its ships.
Is Rendsburg a good trip from the guesthouse?
Very much so. Rendsburg lies on the same canal as our guesthouse, just a little further along, and is a rewarding destination for a day full of water and engineering.
Where can I stay nearby?
In a quiet setting at our small guesthouse Nord-West 1700 in Liesbüttel, about half an hour from Rendsburg. Our cosy rooms make a good base for the whole region.

Stay on the canal

Would you like to experience the great canal structures in Rendsburg and stay on the same canal? Our guesthouse in Liesbüttel is about half an hour away, with a hearty breakfast and first-hand tips.

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More places to discover

📍 Hanerau-Hademarschen📍 Bornholt📍 Oldenbüttel

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