Cycle tour 100 Castles Route | Small Southern Loop

Today's plan includes 63 kilometres from the Westphalian "metropolis" of Münster to the peaceful Ascheberg. There is enough time to discover some of the city's sights before you start your cycle tour at Münster Castle. How about breakfast at Prinzipalmarkt, a visit to the Friedenssaal (Peace Hall) or a tour of the imposing cathedral? A real insider tip is the botanical garden at the back of the castle with its lush flowering plants.

From the city to the countryside

After a few turns of the pedals along the unique "promenade", you have left Münster's city centre and soon reach the beautiful shores of the Werse. Accompanied by small forests, meadows and fields, the path follows the meanders of the river. If you haven't already taken a break at the Pleistermühle pub, there are plenty of places to sit and rest or have a picnic.

The Water castles of Bisping and Borg near Rinkerode give you a foretaste of the "castle experience" of the next few days. The historic castle tower of Davensberg marks the end of today's stage.

Today offers 36 kilometres of pure cycling pleasure. Although the stage is somewhat shorter, it shows you one of the most beautiful highlights in the Münsterland: the Castle of Nordkirchen, not far from your starting point, is rightly called the "Versailles of Westphalia". The true size of the palace complex only becomes clear on a tour. The ever-changing perspectives amaze and invite you to take a "photo tour". Perhaps the most beautiful view is from the lake across Venus Island to the castle.

Apropos Venus Island - here size and many small details combine to create unique elegance. A place to dream and linger. There are many places of this in the extensive castle park. Wonderful for a picnic in the green. Just a few metres away is the small town centre of Nordkirchen with restaurants, cafés and an ice cream parlour.

After Selm you will come across the blue ribbon of the Stever. The small river will accompany you again and again until you reach your destination, Lüdinghausen. Before the day draws to a close, there is still time to visit the beautiful Lüdinghausen Castle. Every second and fourth Friday of the month (April to October) there is an evening market with small gastronomic temptations.

Once again, 63 kilometres are on the programme. But the first highlight awaits you just a few minutes after your start. As soon as you enter the castle courtyard, Vischering Castle takes you back to the Middle Ages. A tour of the museum completes your journey back in time.

Kakesbeck Castle, just outside the city, and Senden Castle are currently being carefully renovated. A guided tour of the construction site in Senden is a special experience on your tour. The beautiful meadows in front of the castle are ideal for a small picnic with a "castle view". For the next few kilometres, you can relax and follow the Stever to the small town of Nottuln.

Off into the mountains

It's only a few metres up to the Longinus Tower on the 188-metre-high Westerberg. Coffee and cake garnished with a magnificent view await you there at Café 18|97 as a reward for your efforts. But what does effort mean? The cycle paths through the hills of the Baumberge are a delight and lead you to Havixbeck. While Havixbeck House can only be seen from a distance, you can get up close and personal at Hülshoff Castle. Poetry is in the air - after all, the castle is the birthplace of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff.

Following in Droste's footsteps, you will reach Haus Rüchhaus, back in Münster. The small garden and the museum are not to be missed. It's hard to believe that it's only 5 kilometres from here to the end point at Münster Castle. The cosy restaurants and bars in the Kreuzviertel are just the right place to review the impressions of the last few days in a relaxed atmosphere.

Do you like this cycle tour? Then you can book it with us as a ready-made package holiday. We will reserve the accommodation in the stage towns for you in advance, provide you with the necessary information material and organise the luggage transfer for you.

You can make a non-binding enquiry about the cycle tour using the contact form. You will receive a non-binding offer from us as soon as possible. If you have any special requests, comments or deviations from the tour advertised here, please let us know using the "Message" field. If you have any questions about your enquiry, you can send an email to touristik@muensterland.com or call us on +49 (0) 2571 94 93 92.

Services included:

• 3 x overnight stays
• 3 x breakfast
• luggage transfer
• route description
• Cycling map
• Komoot voucher for the regional package "Münsterland"
• insurance certificate

Prices:

• 389 € in a double room
• 479 € in a single room

Offer valid for arrival 1.01.-21.12.2026 | Prices per person | bookable from 2 persons | Organiser: Münsterland e.V.

You can easily plan this cycling tour. The following links will take you to the tour maps with all the sights along the route - as a complete overview or day by day. You can also conveniently download all routes as GPS tracks.