State Garden Show Route

The Landesgartenschau route begins in Lünen. This means that the tour starts at the Lünen Lake Park, which is famous for its 9-hectare lake. The former mining area of the Preußen colliery can still be seen in the blue-green play of colours in nature. The lake has been converted into a nature reserve on the southern side and the northern side serves as a 5,000 m² lido.

The route then leads about 30 kilometres in a northeasterly direction to the city of Hamm. There, Maximilian Park with its glass elephant awaits all guests. Attractions such as the largest butterfly house in North Rhine-Westphalia, a perennial bed by the renowned landscape gardener Piet Oudolf , changing plantings in every season and extensive events invite you to linger here.

The next highlight can be found in Oelde. After a beautiful 70-kilometre tour along the picturesque Hovestadt Castle, Oelde rewards cyclists in the Four Seasons Park with its spectacular flowerbeds, extensive lawns and lakes, as well as the Klipp-Klapp children's museum for young visitors.

Not far away is Rheda-Wiedenbrück. In 1988, the State Garden Show was held here. Today the park is known as"Flora-Westfalica-Park". The State Garden Show created a green link between the formerly independent towns of Rheda and Wiedenbrück. It is also worth stopping here to take a stroll through the historic old towns.

The fifth park is in Rietberg. Here you can really believe your eyes when a small herd of water buffalo suddenly appears between the shrub beds. The Asian buffaloes are now at home near the observation tower in the Gartenschaupark Rietberg. The park is also known for its offerings for young and old, with its water playgrounds and climbing parks on the edge of the beautiful old town.

The State Garden Show route continues eastwards along the town of Delbrück and a gentle uphill climb totalling 100 metres. The park of the Bad Lippspringe h orticultural show opens up on the edge of the Senne FFH conservation area. Here you can discover a splendour of blossoms paired with an idyllic forest landscape. The park also offers a wide range of activities for families, including playgrounds and rest areas.

The last destination of the stage is in Paderborn with the Schloss- und Auenpark. The park is located in the picturesque setting of Neuhaus Castle and is characterised by many adventure points and three rivers that cross the city.

The route ends at Paderborn's main railway station, from where you can comfortably start your journey home.

The route starts at Lünen main station and offers a perfect introduction for all those who want to travel by public transport.

By bus and train to Lünen:

• Lünen main station: Lünen
• Bus and train connections to every municipality in the Unna district
• Connections to long-distance traffic

You can also easily start your route in Lünen by car, as there is a car park right next to the main railway station. The starting point is easy to reach via the B54 and B236.

By car to Lünen:

• Coming from the south, west and east: A2 motorway at the Dortmund -Nordost junction, then take the B236 towards Lünen and continue on the B54.
• From the north: Leave the A1 motorway at the Hamm-Bockum-Werne exit (80) in the direction of Werne/Selm and follow the B54 to Lünen.

There are eight larger car parks in Lünen. The Mersch multi-storey car park (Mersch 18) or the multi-storey car park at Tobiaspark (Am Tobiaspark 18) are the best places to start the Landesgartenschau route. Both multi-storey car parks are chargeable.