Hikes in Münsterland

Hikers who are enthusiastic about both nature and architecture will quickly feel at home in Münsterland. There are many castles, palaces and churches here. Hülshoff Castle, Anholt Castle and Bentheim Castle are just a few examples of the many buildings here.

In Münsterland, a 100-loop route has been set up to link all the sights of historical importance. Although this is a cycle route, there are always imposing buildings along the way that are worth a look even on hiking tours 

What is typical of Münsterland?

In addition to the many historical buildings, the image of Münsterland is characterised by the wide, flat fields with many farms. In some parts the inhabitants speak the traditional Münsterl;nder Platt. Industrialisation has changed the traditional image of Münsterland, but in museums such as the Mühlenhof you can immerse yourself in the old Münsterland. In the eponymous city of Münster you will find a mixture of historical buildings such as the Prinzipalmarkt, which is well worth seeing, and a young population with many students.

One example of the beauty and uniqueness of Münsterland is Billerbeck: the town has a mighty cathedral that rises far above the small town and is visible as a landmark from afar. In the surrounding fields and forests of Münsterland, there are always beautiful views of the region from the hills.

The Jubiläumswanderweg (Jubilee Hiking Trail) around Münster, with a length of approximately 60 kilometres, also makes it possible to discover the city and the surrounding Münsterland with its beautiful landscape. While the castle and Haus Kump on the Aasee are impressive in the city area, the path along the lake leads into the rural region, where idyllic nature and old manor houses provide variety. The trail around Münster was designed as a circular walk in 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Westfälischer Heimatbund (WHB).

The best-known hiking trails in the region are the Teutoschleifen in Tecklenburger Land, which have been designated as premium trails. The premium hiking trails invite you to discover the region and enjoy its nature to the full. The hiking tours are between 6 and 13 kilometres long and therefore offer appealing trail profiles for families as well as for sporty hikers.

One of the rather shorter hiking trails among the Teuto loops is called Bevergerner Pättcken. For the easy hike of 7 kilometres, you should allow about 2 hours at a moderate walking pace. But who needs to keep an eye on the time during a hike when there are sights along the way, such as the 100-year-old locks that are still in operation today?

Along the riverside paths you pass freight cranes and leisure boats, a historic 17th-century mill and the Wet Triangle, where the Dortmund-Ems Canal and the Mittelland Canal meet.

Hikes with a far-reaching view are also available in Münsterland: the first of the 256 steps leads up to the Schönen Aussicht, literally the high point of the Waldauenweg. From here you have an impressive view of Riesenbeck and the surrounding Münsterland. While hiking the 6-kilometre tour, there are also high, mighty rocks and a historic Stations of the Cross to marvel at.

There is also an impressive view of the village of Riesenbeck and the surrounding Münsterland.

The Tecklenburg Mountain Trail proves that you can also gain a few metres of altitude on hiking tours in Münsterland. On a total of 10.5 kilometres, for which three and a half hours should be estimated, 229 metres of altitude have to be covered, each of which is worthwhile: natural monuments, an old former quarry and the very idyllic centre of Brochterbeck are waiting to be discovered along the way.

The Teutoschleifchen are particularly suitable as walking trails for beginners and families with children. The length of the hiking trails varies between 3 and 7 kilometres.

The walks are therefore somewhat shorter than the Teutoschleifen and involve less effort. Nevertheless, they inspire with beautiful nature and bring variety with them: forest, water, meadows, but also rocks and magnificent views are represented. Be it hiking in the Köllbachtal, on the Dreikaiserstuhl or über the Schachselwiesen: The Teutoschleifchen are varied and guarantee a great hiking trip with the whole family!

Also long-distance hikers will find a tour in Münsterland that puts athletic ambitions and endurance to the test. The Hermannsweg is 156 kilometres long, is one of the most beautiful hikes in Germany and runs through two nature parks and over the ridge of the Teutoburg Forest. The trail is named after Hermann the Cheruscan, who defeated the Roman commander Varus in his famous battle in 9 AD.

Along the hiking trails you will find places of interest such as the Bentlage Monastery, the old town of Tecklenburg, the legendary Externsteine stones and, of course, the Hermann Monument, which is visible from afar. The multi-day tour is well signposted and classified as moderately difficult. It is possible to set the entire route as a goal or to tackle individual stages as one-day tours.