EuropeGermanySchleswig-Holstein
Kiel
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany · Europe
About Kiel
Kiel sits on the route: 5 minutes from Kronshagen.
Kiel is in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, with about 250,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Kronshagen, about 4 km away.
Kiel ( KEEL; German: [kiːl] ) is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. With a population of around 250,000, it is Germany's largest city on the Baltic Sea. It is located on the Kieler Förde inlet of the Bay of Kiel and lies in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula, atRead more
the mouth of the Schwentine River, approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) northeast of Hamburg. The world's busiest artificial waterway, the Kiel Canal, has a terminus in Kiel's Holtenau district. This canal connects the Baltic to the North Sea, with its other end in Brunsbüttel. Most of Kiel is part of Holstein. The boroughs north of the Schwentine also belong to Wagria, while those north of the Kiel Canal are historically part of Southern Schleswig.
Originally a small settlement, Kiel was granted city rights in 1242. Over the centuries, it developed as an important port and trading hub, particularly due to its strategic location on the Kieler Förde inlet. Kiel became part of the Duchy of Holstein, the northernmost state of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1773 to 1864, it was ruled in personal union by the king of Denmark. In 1864, after the Second Schleswig War, the city was incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia. During the 20th century, Kiel played a significant role in both World War I and World War II, with its naval significance and shipbuilding industry. Following World War II, it became part of West Germany and later reunified Germany.
Kiel is one of Germany's major maritime centres, known for a variety of international sailing events, including the annual Kiel Week, which is the biggest sailing event in the world. Kiel is also known for the Kiel Mutiny, when sailors refused orders to prepare to engage the British Navy in the last weeks of World War I, sparking the German Revolution, which led to the abdication of the Kaiser and the formation of the Weimar Republic. The Olympic sailing competitions at the 1936 and 1972 Summer Olympics were held in the Bay of Kiel.
Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the German Navy's Baltic fleet, and continues to be a major high-tech shipbuilding centre. Kiel University, founded in 1665, is home to the GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. Kiel is an important sea transport hub, with passenger ferries to Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and other countries. Moreover, today the Port of Kiel is a popular destination for cruise ships touring the Baltic Sea.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any good drives near Kiel?
The nearest famous roads are Rømø Causeway.
Where is Kiel?
Kiel is in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, about 4 km from Kronshagen.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 252,668
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Germany
- Region
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Timezone
- Europe/Berlin
- Coordinates
- 54.3213, 10.1349
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Germany
ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.
Full driving guide for GermanyTags
Driving roads near Kiel
- 64 kmFehmarn Sound BridgeThe elegant 963 m 'coat hanger' arch bridge of 1963 carrying road and rail across the Fehmarn Sound to Germany's Baltic island of Fehmarn, a protected landmark on the Vogelfluglinie route.
Driving in Germany
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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