Tourist Attractions in Kiel

North of the Kiel Cultural Center, at Düsternbrooker Weg 1, is the Kunsthalle (German painting of the 17th-20th centuries, Rohlfs and Nolde Collection, graphic art, antiquities).

The Institute of Marine Biology in Kiel, to the north of the Seeburg boating harbor, has an interesting Aquarium (freshwater and sea water), which includes a seals' pool. Opposite it, to the west, is the Old Botanic Garden, with an arboretum.

In Kiel's southern district of Molfsee can be found the Schleswig-Holstein Open-Air Museum, with old peasant houses and craftsmen's workshops.

To the west of the Markt in Kiel lies the Kleiner Kiel, all that is left of an arm of the firth which once encircled the old town. To the southwest are the Opera House (Oper; 1952-53, extension 1973) and the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus; 1907-11), with a 106 m/348ft tower (lift; views of town and Förde).

Opposite the district of Friedrichsdorf (ferry service) in Kiel, on the east shore of the firth, lies the seaside resort of Laboe, with the 72 m/236ft high Naval Memorial (Marine-Ehrenmal; 1927-36). Built in the form of a ship's prow, it now commemorates the naval dead of both world wars. There is a lift to the viewing platform.

In front of the Memorial can be seen a German submarine, U 995 (museum).

The Museum of Ethnography in Kiel displays artifacts from Africa, East Asia and Oceania.

Near the Seegartenbrücke landing stage, to the east of the Markt in Kiel, can be found the old Fischhalle (Fish Market; 1909-10), which now houses the Shipping Museum (development of the harbor, shipbuilding and seafaring). In the Museumshafen (Museum Harbor) are a number of historic old ships.

South of the Alter Markt in Kiel, opposite the railroad station (Hauptbahnhof), is the Sophienhof "cultural quarter", inaugurated in 1988. This two-story building houses the Stadtgalerie (Municipal Gallery; periodic special exhibitions), the "Stadtbildnerei" (Municipal Picture Library; loan of contemporary pictures), conference and function rooms, shops, restaurants, etc.

At the Bahnhofsbrücke (Station Bridge) is the landing-stage used by ships plying in the Kieler Förde and the boats doing harbor cruises.

In the center of Kiel's old town, on the Alter Markt, is the Nikolaikirche (Late Gothic, altered in the 19th C; restored), with a beautiful altar of 1460, a font of 1344 and a pulpit of 1705. In front of the church can be seen a sculpture by Ernst Barlach, "The Intellectual Fighter" (1928).

The Zoological Museum in Kiel has specimens of Ice Age animals, fauna of the North Sea and Baltic coasts and skeletons of whales.