Itinerary
Round trip Westphalia from Münster
Rivers, castles, and boulevards in the southern Münsterland
7 days / 6 nights | Self-guided cycling tours
Be enchanted by the green landscape of the Münsterland. You will cycle along streams, through shady forests, and stunning boulevards. This route takes you along the Münsterland “Pättkes” cycling routes close to nature, lined with hedges and willow trees. Besides small Westphalian manor houses and old country estates, you will discover some of the most well-known castles of the Münsterland on this tours: Castle Nordkirchen, Castle Vischering and Castle Hülshoff. The shorter legs of the bike trip are the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at the castles and palaces, relax in a café along the bike path and discover the rural Münsterland region. On some days, you can choose between a shorter or longer cycle tour. Towards the end of this route, you can look forward to an exciting city tour: Discover many of the pieces of the world-renowned sculpture project exhibitions of the past few years, acquired by the municipality – all in the city and outside.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Münster
Check-in at the hotel and option to visit the nearby city centre. At Prinzipalmarket with its gabled houses, the village square, and on the green Promenadenring you will get your first glance of this charming city.
Day 2: Münster – Davensberg (Cycling 33 km / 21 miles or 58 km / 36 miles)
Along the Dortmund-Ems Canal and through Boniburger Wald you will reach the magical pilgrimage town of Telgte via Hansdorf. The city with its Baroque chapel and the gregarious market square is located right on the shore of the Ems, and it is a popular destination for cyclists. Through meadows and fields we continue to the historical Pleistermühle with country inn and beer garden. This is where you will reach the romantic Werse. This varied cycling trail along the river gives you an opportunity to enjoy pure nature. A magical view of Haus Bispink near Rinkerode, a historical farmstead, and the feudal estate Haus Borg. The last part of this leg will lead you through the mysterious forest area of Davert, which is close to nature, and to Castle Davensburg.
Day 3: Davensberg – Lüdinghausen (Cycling 39 km / 24 miles or 58 km / 36 miles or 49 km / 31 miles)
Today’s stage has two divine moated castles. On rural routes, you will first reach the Baroque Castle Westerwinkel. After crossing the nature reserve of Ichterloh with its beautiful picnic place at the 1,000-year-old oak you will soon reach Castle Nordkirchen, also referred to as “Westphalia’s Versailles” and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the castle courtyard, the restaurant invites you to take a break and to take in the stunning view of the estate. You continue to cycle along the charming Stever river to Lüdinghausen, a city home to a moated castle. Overnight stay near the castle buildings.
Day 4: Lüdinghausen – Senden (Cycling 58 km / 36 miles)
Today starts with visits to Burg Lüdinghausen and Burg Vischering, one of the most beautiful fortified castles. We continue along Halterner Borkenberge towards Halterner Stausee (reservoir). The cafés on the shore of the lake invite you to stop by or to jump into the cool water of this swimming lake. On the northern side of the Borkenberge, you will cycle through fields, forests, and meadows, mostly on the 100-castles route all the way to Haus Visbeck and further to Senden.
Day 5: Senden – Nottuln (Cycling 34 km / 21 miles or 60 km / 37 miles)
Today’s cycling tour will lead you along the Stever river to Haus Klein-Schoenebeck, an estate from the 14th century. After this, you will cycle through the green park landscape of the Münsterland region and to Havixbeck. At the foot of the Baumberge along the moated castle of Darfeld, one of the most impressive castle estates in the Münsterland and built on two islands. In the state-recognised resort town of Billerbeck you will discover the picturesque little store houses at Johanneskirchplatz, inviting cafés and restaurants. Before you cycle on to Nottuln you will go to Westerberg, the highest point of the Münsterland. From Longinusturm, built with typical Baumberg sandstone, you will have an amazing view of the Münsterland and you will already be able to spot Nottuln, the next destination of today’s leg.
Day 6: Havixbeck – Münster (Cycling 35 km / 21 miles)
Today you have plenty of time to discover all sides of Münsterland. Th e fi rst stretch is along a track around the Baumberge hills to the Schlauchbach stream and just before Havixbeck. You will fi nd the impressive Castle Hülshoff in the middle of stunning grounds, the house in which poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff was born. Since 2012, seeing the castle from inside and enjoying the food in the castle yard is possible. Haus Vögeding and Haus Rüschhaus are two other estates worth seeing on the route. Another highlight awaits you at the end of the tour with the castle in Münster. Built by J. C. Schlaun, since 1954 it has housed the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität. Behind the castle, you will find the botanical garden and the castle garden café.
Day 7: Münster
End of the tour after breakfast or extension day.
Also available for booking: Extension Day
Münster – Sculpture Projects (Cycling 18 km / 11 miles)
Booking an extra night gives you time to experience art in the open. Every 10 years the 'Skulptur Projekte' take place in Münster and leaves its mark around the city by integrating some of the sculptures in the urban landscape.
Off cycling towards Aasee, a large artificial lake in the centre of Münster. Here you will find the 'Giant Pool Balls' by Claes Oldenburg, perhaps the most well-known work of the Skulptur Projekte. Past the Wilhelms-Universität, you continue to the promenade, a paved car-free boulevard laid along the city's old ring of fortifications and which takes you along a shady path once round the city centre. Discover the city on foot and maybe end up looking for more sculptures.
It is worth visiting the Friedensaal in the Town Hall,Dom and/or one of the many museums. Or wander through the city in typical Westphalian calm by popping into one of the typical cafés, stroll around the 'Prinzipalmarkt' and bring your tour to a relaxing end.
Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.
