Name and Location

Bülk Lighthouse (German: Leuchtturm Bülk) marks the seaward entrance to Kieler Förde (Kiel Fjord) on the Baltic coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Its address is Leuchtfeuer Bülk 0, 24229 Strande, Germany, and its coordinates are 54°27′19″ N, 10°11′50″ E.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was constructed between 1865 and 1866 and first lit on November 15, 1866. It is the oldest extant lighthouse on this coast and remains an active aid to navigation. The lighthouse has undergone modernization, being automated in 1969 and remotely controlled from the Waterways and Shipping Office (WSA) Kiel.

Architecture and Materials

The tower type is a conical masonry tower with a gallery and lantern, constructed using brick covered with white stucco. The height of the tower is approximately 25 meters (82 feet) above its base, while the focal height is 29 meters (95 feet) above mean sea level. The lantern room is an octagonal cast-iron structure with Fresnel lenses.

Light and Navigation

The light pattern consists of a single flash every three seconds, with a range of white (14 nautical miles), red (11 nautical miles), and green (10 nautical miles). The light sectors approximate bearings from true north are: white (127°-146°, 228°-262°), red (146°-213°, 235½°-238½°), and green (213°-228°, 262°-043°).

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is open seasonally (April-October) generally on weekends and public holidays. Guided tours to the lantern deck are available. Admission fee is approximately €4 (adults), with reduced rates for children/seniors.

Notable Views and Landscape

Panoramic views from the top of the lighthouse include sweeping vistas over Kiel Bay to the south, the Schlei inlet to the north, and offshore wind farms.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Early lighthouse keepers reputedly lit the oil lamp by hand each evening and kept logbooks of severe Bise winds and drifting ice. During both World Wars, the light was dimmed to avoid detection, and it served as an observation post.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the German Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSA) Kiel. It has been automated since 1969 and does not have AIS/Radar installations. The lighthouse remains a coastal light and continues to serve as an aid to navigation.

Further Information

Note: All technical data are sourced from publicly available nautical publications (NGA, Admiralty) and official German waterway authorities.