Fehmarn, the third largest island in Germany, is not only known for its picturesque beaches and wonderful Vacation accommodation but also for their impressive lighthouses. These maritime landmarks tell stories from times gone by and offer visitors unique views over the Baltic Sea.
In this article, we will give you an overview of the most important lighthouses on the island and their special features.
There are five lighthouses on Fehmarn: Flügge, Staberhuk, Marienleuchte, Strukkamphuk and Westermarkelsdorf. Each lighthouse has its own history and offers a unique view of the island and the Baltic Sea.
Not all lighthouses on Fehmarn can be climbed. The Flügge lighthouse is open to visitors and offers the opportunity to climb to the top and enjoy an impressive panoramic view. The other lighthouses, such as Staberhuk, Marienleuchte, Strukkamphuk and Westermarkelsdorf, are not open to the public.
The Flügge lighthouse allows weddings to be held and is a popular venue for couples who want to tie the knot in an extraordinary place. The historic atmosphere and breathtaking view make it an unforgettable place for this special day.
The Flügge lighthouse is open to visitors from April to October. The exact opening hours may vary depending on the season, so it is advisable to check the current times in advance. The other lighthouses on Fehmarn are not open to the public.
The Flügge lighthouse near Orth on Fehmarn is one of the most popular attractions on Fehmarn. There has been a lighthouse on this part of the island since 1872. This lighthouse is the only lighthouse on Fehmarn that can be climbed and is even used for weddings.
The Flügge lighthouse can be visited and offers spectacular views of the island and the Baltic Sea. Visitors can climb the tower and learn more about the history and how the beacon works.
Visitors praise the Flügge Lighthouse as a highlight on Fehmarn. Many particularly appreciate the impressive view and the informative exhibition inside the tower.
On Tripadvisor, the lighthouse has 4 out of 5 stars.
Leuchtturm Flügge, 23769 Fehmarn, Deutschland
If you follow this link, you will find some pictures and suggestions for routes to or past the lighthouse on a map.
The Flügge lighthouse has been a popular wedding venue since 2005. Its romantic backdrop and unique atmosphere make it the perfect place for the most beautiful day in your life.
Once the wedding ceremony has been completed in the entrance area, the bridal couple can toast before climbing the 162 steps of the lighthouse to take pictures and enjoy the view.
Because of limited space, the number of participants for the wedding ceremony is limited to 15 people, including the bride and groom and the officiant. A total of up to 30 people can be on the outdoor grounds.
In addition, each wedding party has exactly 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) before the next party arrives.
The possible dates for weddings in the Flügger Lighthouse are exclusively in the summer months, from mid-June to mid-September. The dates are every 14 days on every Monday.
Appointments and preliminary discussions are handled by the registry office on Fehmarn.
The available dates are also online at the Website of the Fehmarn registry office to see.
In addition to the registry office fees of €300, you should expect to pay an additional €500 including VAT for the tower rent. (As of: 03.09.2024)
This includes time in the beacon, flower arrangements in the wedding room and a bottle of sparkling wine, orange juice and soda.
| Tower height | 37 Meter |
| Model year: | 1916 |
| Light distance | 21 nautical miles (approx. 39 km) |
| Signal height | 38 meters above mean sea level |
| Construction | Brick building with steel casing |
| Fire type | Flashing light |
| Light source | Electric firing |
| Lighting | Flash: 0.1 s bright, dark: 2.4 s |
| Illuminant | Metal halide lamp 400 W |
| Optics | Fresnel lens, 4th order |
| Special features | Mechanical control of the beacon |
Until about 1850, the “Flügger Holz” stood on the southwestern tip of Fehmarn. The “Flügger Holz” was a group of trees that was supposed to help ships navigate.
After the trees had died, the Ministry of Trade and Transport approved the construction plans for the first Flügger lighthouse.
The beacon had eight corners, was 15 meters high and made of yellow bricks. The beacon was put into operation in 1872 and guided passing ships for 44 years. Its light shone for about 13 nautical miles, or about 24 kilometers.
In 1916, the first Flügge lighthouse was replaced by a new lighthouse. The new tower looked exactly like the first, but at 37.5 meters, it was about twice as high.
After a few minor and major repairs to the lighthouse, it was then completely renovated between 2009 and 2011.
The Flügge lighthouse has been a listed building since 2003.
The lighthouse at Strukkamphuk is the third lighthouse on the south side of Fehmarn, after Flügge and Staberhuk, to guide ships through the Fehmarn Sound.
If the weather is good, you can even see it from the Fehmarnsundbrücke It is the white building on the left side when you drive onto the island or on the right when you drive down.
The Strukkamphuk lighthouse is not open to visitors, but can be admired from the outside during a walk along the coast. The Flügge lighthouse offers tours.
Strukkamp 4C, 23769 Fehmarn, Germany
If you follow this link, you will find some pictures and suggestions for routes to or past the lighthouse on a map.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get married in the lighthouse at Strukkamphuk, but you can do so in the lighthouse at Flügge.
| Tower height | 13 meters |
| Model year: | 1899 |
| Light distance | 10 nautical miles (about 18.5 kilometers) |
| Signal height | 15 meters above mean sea level |
| Construction | Steel construction, painted white |
| Fire type | Interrupted fire |
| Light source | Electric firing |
| Lighting | 2 seconds light, 2 seconds dark |
| Illuminant | LED lamp |
| Optics | Modernized Fresnel lens |
The first beacon at this location was erected in 1872. It was a 3-meter-high wooden structure that was replaced by an iron lantern house in 1896. This lantern house was in turn replaced by the present concrete tower in 1935. Initially, the flame was fueled by liquid gas before the lighthouse was connected to the power grid in 1954.
The special feature of this lighthouse is its all-white color.
The Staberhuk lighthouse stands at the most southeasterly point of the island of Fehmarn. Together with the Flügge and Strukkamphuk lighthouses, it guides all ships along the route through the Fehmarn Sound.
The lighthouse of Staberhuk is the most special lighthouse on Fehmarn and even unique in the world because it has yellow and red bricks on the other. The color change happened because the original yellow bricks did not withstand the weather and were replaced.
The Staberhuk lighthouse is unfortunately not open to the public, but the surrounding area offers a beautiful walk along the coast with a view of the historic structure. The Flügge lighthouse can be visited.
Leuchtturm Staberhuk, 23769 Fehmarn, Deutschland
If you follow this link, you will find some pictures and suggestions for routes to or past the lighthouse on a map.
You can only get married in Flügge Lighthouse.
| Tower height | 19.5 meters |
| Model year: | 1903 |
| Light distance | 16 nautical miles (approx. 29.6 km) |
| Signal height | 22 meters above mean sea level |
| Construction | Round brick building |
| Fire type | Fixed fire |
| Light source | Electric firing |
| Lighting | Continuous light |
| Illuminant | Halogen lamp |
| Optics | Fresnel lens, 3rd order |
Work on the lighthouse at Staberhuk began in 1903 and was completed in the same year. The lantern, which sits on the solid brick structure, is made of cast iron and was actually shipped from Heligoland to Fehmarn.
The light originally came from a lighthouse that stood there from 1810 and was demolished in 1902. The complete lantern with wind direction indicator was then brought from Heligoland to Burgstaaken and from there to Staberhuk.
The west side of the lighthouse was particularly badly affected by the weather over time, which is why the yellow bricks there were replaced with red ones, as mentioned above.
The Marienleuchte beacon stands at the northeast corner of Fehmarn, near Puttgarden.
About 160 meters south of the Marienleuchte beacon, there is still the old Marienleuchte lighthouse, which you can visit at the same time.
The Marienleuchte lighthouse is not open to visitors, but the beautiful surroundings are perfect for a stroll. The lighthouse itself can only be viewed from the outside, but it still makes a picturesque photo motif. The Flügge Lighthouse is open to visitors.
Leuchtfeuer Marienleuchte, Rethen 1A, 23769 Fehmarn, Deutschland
If you follow this link, you will find some pictures and suggestions for routes to or past the lighthouse on a map.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get married in Marienleuchte either. The lighthouse is ready for take-off.
| Tower height | 33 meters |
| Model year: | 1832 |
| Light distance | 20 nautical miles (approx. 37 km) |
| Signal height | 35 meters above mean sea level |
| Construction | Brick building |
| Fire type | Flashing light |
| Light source | Electric firing |
| Lighting | Flash: 1 second on, 2 seconds off |
| Illuminant | Metal halide lamp |
| Optics | Fresnel lens, 2nd order |
The old lighthouse of Marienleuchte was built in 1831 and began its work in 1832. The lighthouse replaced an old beacon. It is a massive tower with an open fire made of wood or coal burning in a fire bowl or iron basket at the top.
The monogram of the Danish King Frederick VI can be seen on the south side of the old yellow-brick building. Another special feature is that the old lighthouse has an acoustic warning system in addition to the light.
The old lighthouse was decommissioned in 1967 after the new red and white beacon was erected in 1964. The lens in the new beacon is actually from the old lighthouse and dates back to 1875.
The old building has also been on the list of cultural monuments on Fehmarn since 1967. After the building fell into a state of disrepair by 2023, it was sold and is being renovated.
The Westermarkelsdorf lighthouse is now two lighthouses. They are located in the northwest of the island. Due to the higher number of ships traveling to the Fehmarn Belt crossing due to the construction site, the old lighthouse was no longer sufficient.
The new tower was built just 30 meters from the old one. The old tower is a listed building.
The Westermarkelsdorf lighthouse cannot be visited, but the surrounding area is ideal for a walk along the coast, where you can admire the lighthouse from the outside.
Leuchtturm Westermarkelsdorf, 23769 Fehmarn, Deutschland
If you follow this link, you will find some pictures and suggestions for routes to or past the lighthouse on a map.
Since the lighthouse in Westermarkelsdorf is private property, it is not possible to get married there. However, it is possible at the Flügge lighthouse near Orth.
| Tower height | 17 meters |
| Model year: | 1881 |
| Light distance | 12 nautical miles (approx. 22 km) |
| Signal height | 20 meters above mean sea level |
| Construction | Round brick tower |
| Fire type | Fixed fire |
| Light source | Electric firing |
| Lighting | Continuous light |
| Illuminant | LED lamp |
| Optics | Fresnel lens, 3rd order |
The old lighthouse in Westermarkelsdorf was put into operation in 1881. Like the other lighthouses, it was also built of yellow brick. At its top sits a red light. Originally, the tower was about 10 meters high before it was raised to around 18 meters in 1902. In 1922, the light was converted from a two-wick paraffin lamp to a benzene incandescent burner, before switching to an electric beacon just two years later in 1924.
As described above, the number of passing ships has increased significantly due to the construction of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel. In general, the old tower no longer met the requirements.
For this reason, construction of a new lighthouse began in the fall of 2020, and it was put into operation on July 7, 2021. The new lighthouse is around 23.8 meters high.
There is no map of the lighthouses as such. Otherwise, you can see all the lighthouses by walking or cycling around the island. We have also linked each lighthouse to Komoot, where you will find pictures and various suggestions for routes to or along the lighthouses.
Here is one possible route for going around the island:
Of course, you can also visit the lighthouses individually by car, bicycle or on foot.
If you still need a Vacation accommodation or sports equipment such as bicycles for your vacation on Fehmarn, you can find more information here.