Walking tour "Ways of the St. James Pilgrims in Münsterland

The city of peace Münster looks back on an eventful past. The numerous historical buildings tell the story of the city. The many small and large churches are well worth seeing. In addition to the cathedral, it is also worth taking a look at the Überwasserkirche and the St. Ägidiikirche on Prinzipalmarkt.

A walk to the castle can be beautifully combined with a visit to the botanical garden and the Aasee lake. To round off the day, the numerous culinary delights in the restaurants and pubs will tempt you. Let yourself be surprised by the cuisine of Münsterland.

The starting point of the walk is Domplatz in the heart of Münster. You should not miss a visit to the Peace Hall in the historic town hall.
On your way through Münster you will discover the Catholic parish church of St. Ludgeri, dating from the 12th century, and the Catholic parish church of St. Joseph (built in 1888 in neo-Gothic style). Slowly leave the city and hike through the green surroundings of Münster to the blue ribbon of the Dortmund-Ems Canal. Shortly after the canal, you will come across the beautiful Hiltrup Lake.
The Westphalian Way of St. James leads you through the Hohe Ward forest to the small town of Rinkerode near Drensteinfurt.

The new day offers a relaxed hike through the flat Münsterland. In Rinkerode, the Way of St. James leads past the Catholic parish church of St. Pancratius (built 1721-24) and then heads south towards Ascheberg-Herbern. Beautiful castles adorn the Way of St. James on this section.
First you pass the moated castle of Haus Borg with its avenues and baroque garden. Shortly before Herben, Haus Itlingen rises from its spacious park. The famous master builder Johann Conrad Schlaun gave the castle, which was already mentioned in the 14th century, the horseshoe shape it still has today in the 18th century, with two wings ending in round towers. The cosy district of Ascheberg-Herbern is your quarters for the night.

The nearby Westerwinkel Castle is one of the highlights of the hike. Built in the 17th century on the site of a medieval castle, the castle is surrounded by a charming English landscape park. A walk around the castle always offers new perspectives.
Your hike on the Westphalian Way of St James takes you past the source of the Horne - a 13-kilometre-long tributary of the Lippe - and on to Werne. The expansive landscape lies before you like a park. Stately farms alternate with fields and meadows. The charming town in southern Münsterland surprises with its historic town centre. Around the market square, restaurants and cafés tempt you with culinary delights.

Enjoy your last day in Werne. The town centre with its historic town hall, museums and market square as well as the attractive pedestrian zone make Werne a magnet for visitors.

Tip: A visit to Werne's brine baths is the perfect end to your hike. Bathing with beneficial effects has characterised life in Werne for almost 150 years. The brine baths offer a variety of elements for a relaxing stay, including a 560 m² water area with six per cent brine, relaxation rooms, textile saunas and catering.

For the return journey, we recommend travelling by train. The journey time between Werne and Münster is approx. 31 minutes.