The eastern reach of Rettin beach feels transitional, occupying the space between the village's modest resort amenities and the wilder stretches toward Bliesdorf. The sand remains fine and walkable, though slightly coarser than the manicured central sections, with occasional pebbles and shell fragments mixed in. Pines and mixed forest press closer to the beach here, their shade reaching onto the sand by late afternoon. The scent shifts too—more resin and leaf mulch mixing with the salt air, especially after rain when the forest floor releases its earthiness.
“The proximity of forest to beach creates a landscape where you can shift between two distinct environments within minutes.”
Credit: UnsplashCrystal lagoon with rocky outcrop
You wade into water that stays shallow and swimmable, the bottom sandy with patches of smooth stones. The bay curves gently, giving you views both back toward Rettin's beach chair rows and forward to undeveloped coastline. Sailboats from Neustadt's marina occasionally drift past, their occupants waving or simply absorbed in the mechanics of wind and sail. The beach here attracts walkers more than sunbathers—couples with dogs, solo hikers following the coastal path, families seeking the combination of sand and forest that makes this section distinct.
Behind the beach, the dunes rise modestly, stabilized by marram grass and wild roses that bloom pink in June. Access paths thread through the vegetation, connecting to the coastal trail that runs parallel to the shore. You can disappear into those trails when the sun grows too insistent, finding dappled shade and the different quiet of the woods. Returning to the beach afterward, the light on the water seems brighter, the openness more dramatic for having stepped away from it.
