Cycling Holiday in Westphalia and Lower Saxony

Your Cycling Holiday in Westphalia and Lower Saxony begins in Rheine, a town with medieval roots through which the River Ems flows. Numerous historic buildings and monuments bear witness to its eventful past. The Gothic St. Dionysius Church is particularly striking and dominates the townscape. Another important historical landmark is the 15th-century Bentlage Monastery, which is now used as a cultural centre.

The first stage of your Cycling Holiday in Westphalia and Lower Saxony takes you through the gently rolling Tecklenburger Land region at the northernmost tip of the Teutoburg Forest. Forests, meadows and small streams lend the landscape an idyllic atmosphere – ideal for nature lovers. You will pass through the former mining town of Ibbenbüren and soon reach your destination for the day: Osnabrück. In 1648, this historic city – along with Münster – was the site of the signing of the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War in Europe.

Take a leisurely stroll along the Hase river out of Osnabrück. Halfway along the foothills of the Teutoburg Forest, you will reach Bramsche. A few kilometres east of the village, the famous Battle of Varus – also known as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest – is said to have taken place in the 9th century. The Kalkriese Museum and Park offers fascinating insights into this historic event. The route continues to Alfsee, a reservoir on the Hase river. Just a stone's throw away is Bersenbrück, whose origins date back to a Cistercian monastery.

Today's stage of the Cycling Holiday in Westphalia and Lower Saxony takes you through Artland, which is known for its imposing farms. Along the way, you will discover Quakenbrück. The town's landmarks are St. Sylvester's Church and St. Mary's Church, as well as around 100 half-timbered houses. The route continues through the Hase Valley to Löningen. Germany's largest pillarless hall church awaits you in the town centre. In the evening, enjoy a stroll along the Hase.

Shortly after setting off, you will cross the border between the former Kingdom of Hanover and the former Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. Several boundary stones near Düenkamp bear witness to this. Not far from the Hase river, you will reach Haselünne, which is known for its large juniper groves and grain distilleries. Meppen is your destination for this stage. The town is located at the confluence of the Hase and Ems rivers. The old town is surrounded by a star-shaped city wall, which underlines Meppen's former importance as a fortress.

Heading upstream, your Cycling Holiday in Westphalia and Lower Saxony  first takes you through a former moorland area. It is worth stopping off in Groß Hesepe. The Emsland Moor Museum there focuses on the cultivation and settlement of moorland landscapes, right up to industrial peat extraction. Close to the Ems, you will reach your destination for the day, Lingen. Located near the Dutch border, the town looks back on more than a thousand years of history.

Today's stage is also very rural. Relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Emsland region once again before you reach your starting point in Rheine. Visit the Gottesgabe salt works in the Bentlage district. Salt was already being extracted there in the 11th century. For centuries, the salt works supplied the people in the surrounding area with “white gold”. Although it is no longer in operation today, the historic buildings have been preserved and are nestled in a beautifully landscaped park.

After breakfast, the cycling holiday in Westphalia and Lower Saxony ends with the individual journey home. We are also happy to extend your stay in Rheine.