Münsterland: big round trip

Flamingos, castles and wild horses

Münsterland is a bicyclist's dream. As you ride through beautiful villages, pastures, and meadows, you will have the chance to see castles, palaces and former courts. The routes are mostly flat, well-paved bike trails- they so called "Pättkes" that are typical of Münsterland. Plenty of signs make finding your way easy, and allow you to concentrate on the scenery rather than not getting lost. This also means you can safely pick your own route from one stop to the next.

1. day Münster arrival

The marketplace, the beautiful gabled houses, the old city hall and the former bishop's palace will give you plenty to see while in the city. There is parking at the hotel, and arrival by train is also a possibility.

2. day Münster - Schöppingen 54 km

Imagine you've just hopped on the bike and are already at the first of many sights: Take a worthwhile break on "Rüschhaus House" with the Droste-Hulshoff Museum and castle Hülshoff with extensive park system. Visit Havixbeck, the sandstone museum, climb the Longinus Tower, the highest elevation in the Münsterland and enjoy a fantastic view - a real highlight at this stage. Look forward to the Cathedral of Billerbeck in the medieval town, the water castle Darfeld and the flower-covered pilgrimage church Eggerode (2nd place "Unser Dorf soll schöner werden").

3. day Schöppingen - Zwillbrock / surroundings 57 km

On small bike paths you cycle to Legden with its beautiful gardens. Enjoy the beautiful flowers and in the old town center the house of Hülst (built 1677). Then you cycle comfortably and past lonely farms to Ahaus. Visit the magnificent Baroque moated castle, a former hunting lodge of the Prince-Bishops of Münster. Today, the castle houses the Technical Academy Ahaus and in the gatehouse is the worth seeing school museum. After a rewarding break, you will cycle to the colorful, interesting town of Vreden with its multitude of art objects. The nature reserve Zwillbrocker Venn on the Dutch border is quickly reached. Cycle in and marvel at black-headed gulls and flamingos!

4. day Zwillbrock - Bocholt 49 km

So, you thought it couldn't get any better? Well, it can! Holland is perfect for bicyclists: In Holland you cycle through narrow alleys, on beautiful bike paths and on small rural roads to Winterswijk (Wednesday market day) and then to the "Antique City" Bredevoort. In the afternoon you leave the Netherlands and cycle to the lovely city of Bocholt. Bocholt has been chosen the most bike friendly city in 2019 for the 6th time.

5. day Bocholt - Coesfeld 63 km

Past the interesting textile museum in Bocholt you will cycle idyllically along the small river Aa. The well signposted Aa Cycle Path is part of the 460 km long route "Flusslandschaften". Look forward to the leisure facility PröbstingSee, to the water castle Gemen in Borken and in the evening to the adventure brewery Stephanus in Coesfeld.

6. day Coesfeld - Lüdinghausen 54 km

Today you'll pass through Nottuln, a scenic town with a barock center. After a few kilometers of rolling hills, you'll be back on the flatland, following the bikepath via Senden and castle Kakesbeck to Lüdinghausen. While you're here, don't miss the medieval fortification of Vischering castle, with its drawbridge and museum of Münsterland's history.

7. day Lüdinghausen - Münster 56 km

And now for the Pièce de résistance: the palace at Nordkirchen, known as the "Versailles of Westphalia." Not stopping here is hardly an option, as the interior decoration of the palace is masterful! For the rest of the day you will continue along the road of 100 palaces, passing the Romberg and Byink houses, and the Davensberg castle on your way to your final stop in Münster.

8. day Münster departure

All good things do, sadly, come to an end. After breakfast at the hotel, your tour is at an end.

Worth knowing about the Münsterland Round trip

In the following you will find some useful information about the Münsterland Round trip. Should you require any further information please call us: 0049-(0)6421-886890.

Arrival by train

Münster is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. All our partner hotels are located within easy access to the station. Either you walk (about 10 minutes) or you take a taxi from the station. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

Some of the hotels provides a limited number of on-site parking places or parking spaces near the hotel. The parking spot can not be pre-booked. The cost of the garage is 12.00 - 17.00 EUR/night/car. In our alternative hotel you find free parking spots in the category B. This hotel is located just outside Münster. Detailed information on parking at your hotel, you will receive together with the detailed travel documents two weeks prior to departure.

Condition of cycle paths

The Münsterland is criss-crossed by well-developed cycle paths and small streets that are ideal for leisurely cycling. Forest paths, hiking trails and country lanes are also integrated into the cycle path network and offer so much variety in the saddle. Our route also leads over these typical "Pättkes" and so you cycle mostly on flat asphalted paths and sometimes also on forest or hiking trails.

Available rental bikes

If you would like a Velociped rental bike for the tour, it will be ready for you at the hotel. You can choose between women's and men's bikes with either 7-speed hub gears and coaster brakes or 27-speed derailleur gears and freewheel, as well as electric bikes. Our women's bikes are suitable for all cyclists from a height of 150 cm and men's bikes from 165 cm.
If you would like an electric bike, we can provide you with a Velo de Ville unisex bike. Simply let us know what bike you want when you make your booking.
The Velociped Tourer Bikes

Extra costs which are not included in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the travel price and therefore has to be paid in the hotel locally.

7 day hotline service

In case of chain breakdown, flooding or other bad surprises that makes a continuation of your tour impossible: no problem, we also work during weekends and you can reach us 7 days a week in case of emergency.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

St. Lamberti Church, Münster

Lamberti Church is the central market and parish churhc of the town and at the same time on of the most important sacred buildings built in Westphalian late Gothik style. In 1941, bishop von Galen preached against the Nazi regime in the church. On of the very few tower-keepers in Europe serves his duty on the tower. Of specific significance are the interior design and both of the organs.

St. Lamberti Church Münster

Historic Town Hall, Münster

With its high gable, Münster’s Town Hall, a gothic building from the mid-14th century, is second to none in Germany. The characteristic arch house was reconstructed true to the original in the 1950s.

In April 2015, the European Heritage Label has been awarded to the Town Halls of Münster and Osnabrück as the ‚Sites of the Peace of Westphalia‘ by the European Commission.

Historic Townhall

Water Castle Hülshoff, Droste-Museum

Castle Hülshoff is a typical water castle in the Münsterland. It is located between Havixbeck and Roxel and belongs to the town of Havixbeck since 1975. The family of Droste zu Hülshoff is the owner of the castle since 1417 and the house where the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff was born.

Water Castle Hülshoff

Ahaus Castle

The castle of Ahaus is a former residence of the prince-bishop of Münster in Ahaus. The castle was built at the beginning of the 11th century. During the centuries the owners and design of the castle changed several times until a big part of the castle was destroyed in the 7-year-war. Johann Conrad Schlaun added the huge stairs at the garden front in 1765 to 1767.

Ahaus Castle

Flamenco route

The most northern flamenco colony of Europe, pintoresque villages and lively towns, nature reserves with enormous swamps, moorland and marsh area - discover the nature and culture of the region between the German and Netherland frontier between Enschede (NL) and Vreden (D). Over 3000 km of bike paths and 30 km of trekking paths with look-outs lead you through a very interesting landscape. You will find more than 100 information boards inform you about the history, nature and culture.

Flamenco route

Worthseeing in Bocholt

There are many opportunities to embark on a journey through the almost 800-year history of Bocholt. It is clearly reflected in the Bocholt museums and sights. Be it the textile museum of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe with its still functioning looms, the city museum, in which everything that was important for the city since the first mention of Bocholt in 779, was collected, or the craft museum, the 34 craft professions in seven detailing faithfully designed buildings alive.

Bocholt Worth Seeing Things

TextilWerk Bocholt

With two locations to the left and right of the Aa River, TextilWerk Bocholt is a unique historical ensemble of textile production. Over 20,000 spindles once turned in the spinning Herding in Bocholt. On three floors, the history and the present of the textile come to life here again. Exhibitions give insights into historical and modern technology, show fashion design and international textile art. Function rooms and a glass roof café provide space for a variety of events. In the immediate vicinity lies the weaving mill. Here it smells of oil and work, and the looms rattle so loudly that you involuntarily close your ears. What you experience today during a visit was everyday life for thousands of men and women 100 years ago. We show you how the tact of the machines dictated their work. Under the shed roofs of the large weaving shed, transmission belts and long drive shafts set more than 30 historical machines in motion. Every day our employees produce fabrics for towels and tablecloths from our historical collection. Away from the noisy factory, you will get to know the austere everyday life of families in a fully furnished workers' house with a cultivated garden.

TextilWerk Bocholt

St. Lamberti Church Coesfeld

The Lamberti Church with the baroque tower in Coesfeld is located at the market place. It has been build from 1686 to 1703.
The church has formerly been a romanic church, later it has been changed to a gothic church.

St. Lamberti Church Coesfeld

Burg Vischering

The castle Vischering in Lüdinghausen in the Münsterland is a water castle preserved in essential parts. In spite of various rebuildings of the castle to make it more comfortable for the residents it is still a very typical castle which shows the former character of a well-fortified castle.

Castle Vischering

Castle of Nordkirchen

The castle of Nordkirchen is called the "Westfälischer Versailles" because of its size and the design of the garden. It is the biggest water castle of Westfalia.

The palace premises are used for the state's Finance Academy, for cultural events and for adult education.

Most important is the training of officials for the tax offices. The academy needs lecture and seminar rooms, student and staff residences, a restaurant and a gymnasium. Administration offices and supply facilities are located in adjacent buildings.

The historical palace rooms are used for concerts and other cultural events and seminars. The Jupiter ball room and the main room of the Oranienburg (the pleasure palace) can be rented for formal dinners. Today there is a gourmet restaurant in the basement of the palace - where the kitchen was formerly located.

The chapel is used for weddings. The municipality of Nordkirchen uses one of the corner towers for civil weddings. The tourist office of the municipality is located in the south-east tower.

The orangery is privately owned. High-quality garden furniture can be viewed and bought there.

The gardens and park are the ideal background for open-air concerts and films. In the autumn of 2008 a film on the Krupp family was made there and broadcast in the spring of 2009.

Castle of Nordkirchen