Wenningstedt - Sylt's gem between village pond and cliff

Wenningstedt - Sylt's gem between village pond and cliff

He begins with the view that is probably a daily occurrence for every Wenningstedt guest: From the main staircase, the view wanders towards England, or at least in the general direction of our western neighbouring island. According to legend, in the year 449, this island was visited by two warlike Syltians: the brothers Horsa and Hengest are said to have set out for Britain with an army from the then natural harbor of Wenningstedt. "The street name Horsatal still reminds us of this today," says Chinnow, who celebrated his 25th anniversary of service in the Norddörfer parish in January.

We continue towards Gosch am Kliff, where the tour guide naturally tells us about "Jünne's" success story, but also about the development of the town. "When I came to the island, there was nothing going on in Wenningstedt between October and April. That has changed dramatically. Today, probably every Sylt vacationer comes to the promenade here at least once during their vacation."
Just a stone's throw from Wenningstedt's most famous spot lies a place that most people normally just drive past: Kapellenplatz. "What do you see here?" he asks the group. "Nothing," comes the quick reply. Indeed, Kapellenplatz looks relatively deserted at first glance. But: "You only see what you know", Chinnow counters, and launches into action. He explains why this square is called Kapellenplatz (Chapel Square): The chapel that now stands by the village pond was originally supposed to be built here. And what the large gravel field is used for: as a regular meeting place for the "Sylter Bouletten" (Sylt Meatballs). And what's special about the partly recently renovated guest houses all around: They were built relatively late, and in a spot where a Sylt resident probably wouldn't have built them back then.

After just a short time, it's clear that Rainer Chinnow is in his element here. "I simply love this island, and I want to share that love with others. And in Wenningstedt, in particular, there are so many stories and so much interesting information!" He originally planned to start giving tours only after his retirement, but things turned out differently: There's currently a shortage of tour guides across the island, including in Wenningstedt.

And where there is an emergency, it is fortunately difficult for a pastor to stay out of it…
He spent two years working on the concept for the tour, completed training as a tour guide, and acquired a wealth of knowledge from books and conversations. Added to this are his personal experiences and adventures from over 25 years on Sylt. All this, combined with his talent for inspiring people with words (anyone who has ever seen him at a church service can attest to this), makes Rainer Chinnow a truly special tour guide.

In two hours, he leads his group confidently and entertainingly through the town and its history. Time flies, passing a particularly majestic door, Frisian ramparts, the oldest house in town, and the village pond, all the way to the final stop, the Frisian Chapel.

A tip for everyone who already loves Wenningstedt or wants to get to know it for the first time.