Historic Town Centres Cycle Tour

The circular route for the "Historic Town Centres Cycle Tour" starts in Warendorf. The town is known as a horse and Hanseatic town. In 1826, King Friedrich Wilhelm III brought horses to the town with the state stud farm. This gave rise to numerous riding facilities and schools. As a city in the Hanseatic League, the city was known for its gold and silversmithing. Today, visitors to the town enjoy the inviting market square and the cosy alleys and half-timbered and sandstone houses of the Ems town.

The route follows the Ems in an easterly direction for a few kilometres and then meanders along beautiful meadows and the town of Herzebrock-Clarholz until the second stop is reached: Rheda-Wiedenbrück.
Rheda-Wiedenbrück impresses with two historic town centres. The old town of Rheda was originally a craftsmen's settlement at the foot of the castle. It was mainly linen weavers who settled there. Some of the former craftsmen's houses are still standing today. Wiedenbrück impresses with its historic structure of narrow streets and well-preserved houses. The historic town hall, the Ratskeller and the former altar-building workshop Diedrichs should of course also be visited during the tour of the town.

The tour continues along the Ems to Rietberg. The town is also known as "the town of beautiful gables". Here, lovingly restored half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries await their guests. Rietberg draws on its long history. Among other things, it was once the residence of a county and the capital of the state.

The cycle tour continues along smaller villages to Lippstadt. In Lippstadt, figures of the former craftsmen's guilds welcome visitors. The figures are part of the civic fountain and have movable heads and arms, which means that the fountain looks slightly different every day. Other sights of the town are the Jakobikirche, the Stadtpalais, the Metzgeramthaus and the Historic Town Hall.

A few kilometres further south-west is the town of Soest. Here, too, picturesque half-timbered houses and the Hanseatic League have left their mark. Today, some 600 buildings and churches in the town are listed monuments.

Not far from Soest, the next historic town awaits its guests. Welcome to Werl! The town is located at the interface of the Münsterland, Sauerland and Ruhr regions. The town centre combines small residential and patrician houses with large-scale peasant and burgher estates. A stroll through the pilgrimage town can feel like a journey back in time. Picturesque little streets with cobblestones decorate the walk. Those who want to learn more about the history of Werl can also visit the museum on the Rykenberg.

The cycle tour continues and initially holds exciting descents for speed fans on the next 40 kilometres and then becomes somewhat flatter. Along the way, the route passes through the town of Hamm. From there, the route leads along the Datteln-Hamm Canal to Werne.

Here, the market square by the historic town hall still represents the heart of the town. Werne also has an exciting history to tell. Since it was first mentioned in a document in 834, the small town has experienced a severe fire disaster, the Thirty Years' War, it became Prussian and later developed into a spa town. Even today, the family and brine baths benefit from the discovery of the brine spring in the 19th century.

The next stage leads through the gentle, up-and-down Münsterland park landscape directly through the town of Münster. It is worth taking a break here and strolling through the inviting Prinzipalmarkt and along the historic town hall. Three cages high up on the tower of the Lamberti Church tell of the Anabaptists who ruled the city around 1534. In front of the Lambertikirche you can turn left into Domgasse. In the alley, visitors to the city pass through a red and white gate that was part of the 1987 sculpture projects and then stand directly in front of the imposing St Paul's Cathedral.

Further north is the town of Steinfurt. Once there, the beautiful moated castle immediately catches the eye. In combination with Steinfurt's old town, they form the perfect ensemble. A little further along the route is the Bagno. In the past, the Bagno was a kind of amusement park with pyramids and boat tours. Today, the park is still very much worth seeing and a walk or using the park's own app gives you a glimpse of the colourful hustle and bustle of the past.

Tecklenburg is the last stop on the circular tour before heading back to Warendorf. But the town is no less worth seeing! Numerous legends are spun around the picturesque mountain town with the adjacent Teutoburg Forest. In Tecklenburg's old town you will find narrow alleys paired with half-timbered houses. The castle ruins and the central market square are also well worth a visit.

Before the return journey, cyclists on the Historic Town Centres Cycle Route can once again take in the wide view over the Münsterland region and review the impressions of the tour.

The town of Warendorf is a suitable starting point for the circuit, where it is easy to get there by public transport or your own car.

By bus and train to Warendorf:

• Train station: Warendorf
• Bus and train connections to the communities in the Münsterland region

By car to Warendorf:

• Coming from the north: Follow the B51 to Glandorf, then continue on the B475 to Warendorf.
• Coming from the east: From the A2, take the Rheda-Wiedenbrück exit (23 in the direction of the B64 Münster/Warendorf. Follow the B64 for 27 km to Warendorf.
• Coming from the south: Take the A2 and exit at Beckum (20). Take the B457 towards Beckum/Warendorf/Ennigerloh/Sendenhorst. Follow the B475 to Warendorf.
• Coming from the west: Follow the B51 to Warendorf.

Warendorf offers over 1,000 parking spaces. The town is therefore a very good starting point for the circular route.

The Linnenwiese / unterer Lohwall car park, for example, is located directly on the route and is free of charge.

• Height restriction: 2.1 m
• Opening hours: 06:00 - 21:00 hrs

1. Warendorf - Rietberg (49 km)

2. Rietberg - Soest (63 km)

3. Soest - Werne (58 km)

4. Werne - Münster (57 km)

5. Münster - Steinfurt (50 km)

6. Steinfurt - Tecklenburg (57 km)

7. Tecklenburg - Warendorf (58 km)