Wind, waves, coastal mudflats and flat sandy beaches are characteristic of Schleswig-Holstein's western side. The east is shaped by cliffs, bays and narrow inlets cut deep into the land. The constant ebb and flow of the tide and the region's spectacular sunsets still greatly influence the rhythm of people's lives. You can smell the salt in the air; fine, therapeutic particles coming off the sea. Schleswig-Holstein is a narrow region with the North Sea on one side and the Baltic on the other. At its narrowest point, between Husum and Schleswig, it is only 36 kilometres wide. The coastline, lighthouses and windmills are what generally spring to mind when people think of Schleswig-Holstein, but these are not its only attractions. The inland areas, shaped by arable and pasture farming, are very rich in history. The traditional structure of local rural life remains unchanged to the present day. Many people know Schleswig-Holstein as a holiday region, but few are familiar with it as cheese-making country. The far north's many cheese specialities are still a real insider's tip.
The Schleswig-Holstein Cheese Route has been designed with this in mind. It is a circular route that runs for around 500 kilometres through the heart of this maritime region, linking the cheese producers in the area between the North Sea and the Baltic, the river Elbe and the Danish border. As well as cheese dairies, it includes many other fascinating places of interest. Cheese can often be bought from the cheese dairies themselves, but there are exceptions, and strict hygiene regulations mean that dairies are not always open to visitors. The tradition of cheese production on the region's farms goes back to the Middle Ages. Today there are numerous farm cheese dairies and well over 30 local producers offering more than 100 types of cheese.
