Eckernförde is a city situated in northern Germany, within the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, forming a part of the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district. Positioned on the shores of the Eckernförd Bay, along the Baltic Sea, it lies 25 kilometers to the northwest of Kiel.
Eckernförde prides itself on being an eco-friendly city, with an array of wildlife like swans, squirrels, and hares coexisting within its boundaries. Since May 14, 1986, the city has held the esteemed title of “UNO-Stadt.” Furthermore, in 1994-1995, it was designated as the headquarters of the Federation for the Protection of Nature and the Environment. The city has consistently earned the recognition of a “City that satisfies the environmental requirements of society,” achieving this status in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000.
Within the church records of St. Nicholas Church, there’s an entry chronicling the death of Count Saint-Germain, who was interred within the church on February 27, 1784. Regrettably, this burial site was lost to the ravages of the 1872 flood.
Eckernförde is a pivotal point on the European hiking trail E6. Moreover, it serves as the starting point for a hiking trail that links five nature parks within the Schleswig-Holstein region.
Eckernförde houses the combat swimmers and divers of the German Navy. Additionally, it accommodates Bundeswehr arsenals, technical supply depots, and ship and naval weapon repair facilities.