100 Castles Route | North course

The city of Münster is the heart of the region and thus the perfect starting point for a cycle tour on the northern course of the 100 Castles Route. Before starting the cycle tour, it is always worth taking a look at the city's sights. These include the imposing St. Paul's Cathedral and the St. Lamberti Church, the Prinzipalmarkt, Münster's "parlour" and the Erbdrostenhof.

From the starting point, Münster Castle, the 100 Castles Route first leads along the promenade out of the city centre. Only a few kilometres away from Münster, the 100 Castles Route already winds through meadows and forests, the Münsterland park landscape.

Here, cyclists can now expect some exciting places that tell the story of the great poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. One very special place is Hülshoff Castle, the house where she was born and undoubtedly one of the highlights on the 100 Castles Route. In addition to the Droste Museum, the castle is also home to the "Center for Literature". Hülshoff Castle thus plays a very special role in the cultural heritage of the region. And the extensive park with its magnificent views of the beautiful building also delights every visitor. On the way to Hülshoff Castle, the 100 Castles Route first passes Haus Rüschhaus and Haus Vögeding. Haus Rüschhaus, like the Erbdrostenhof in Münster, is a building by the Baroque master Johann Conrad Schlaun and was the residence of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff for over 20 years.

From Havixbeck, the northern course of the 100 Castles Route continues towards Billerbeck. The cyclists now encounter the foothills of the Baumberge mountains. The hilly landscape offers a nice contrast to the otherwise rather flat region. In Billerbeck, a detour to Kolvenburg Castle should definitely be planned. The 15th-century castle lies directly on the Berkel and is now home to the cultural centre of the Coesfeld district with changing exhibitions.

After Billerbeck, the route quickly becomes flatter again and leads past several manor houses through the Steinfurter Land region. The next highlights along the route are the moated castles of Schloss Steinfurt and Haus Welbergen. The romantic gardens at Haus Welbergen invite you to take a short break Continue towards Bad Bentheim. Soon the imposing Bentheim Castle can be seen in the distance. The partly steep ascent is rewarded with a magnificent view from the castle.

The next destination on the 100 Castles Route is the Bentlage Monastery on the northern outskirts of Rheine in the beautiful Salinenpark - the perfect place for a break and a cosy picnic. Behind Rheine, the landscape remains a little more hilly, the route now leads through the foothills of the Teutoburg Forest in the Tecklenburger Land. Other gems on the northern course towards Tecklenburg are Surenburg Castle and Gravenhorst Monastery. In Tecklenburg, the lively, historic town centre invites you to take a detour. Below the town of Tecklenburg lies the moated castle Haus Marck. The route now continues east to Bad Iburg and the mighty Iburg Castle, which towers over the town. Behind Bad Iburg, the landscape quickly flattens out again. The Münsterland park landscape with fields, meadows and forests - some quaint farmsteads and lovely towns with great restaurants, cafés and beer gardens invite you to enjoy and take short breaks on the bike tour. The next highlight is the unique Harkotten double castle in Sassenberg. From here, the route continues through the green countryside, past several stately homes back to Münster.

Münster is a good place to start the northern leg of the 100 Castles Route, especially because of its good connections to regional and long-distance transport.

By bus and train to Münster:

• Main railway station: Münster (Westf.)
• Main hub in Münsterland
• Bus and rail connections to the municipalities of Münsterland
• Connections to long-distance traffic

By car to Münster:

• Coming from the south and north: A1 motorway at the Münster-Nord junction (77), then take the B54 towards Münster.
  
• Coming from the east: Bundesstraße 51 in the direction of Münster.
• Coming from the west: Follow the A43 motorway in the direction of Münster, which automatically becomes Weseler Straße and leads to Münster.

Of course, there are several parking options in Münster. A suitable entry point to the 100 Castles Route is certainly the Schlossplatz in front of Münster Castle. There are parking facilities here for which a fee is charged.