Cycling tour 100 Castles Route | Little North Loop

The second largest city in the Münsterland region offers exciting sights along the Ems to get you in the mood for your cycling trip. Your route should take you through the pedestrian zone to Rheine's beautiful market square. The numerous shops and restaurants invite you to stroll and linger. The Falkenhof, just a few metres away, offers interesting exhibitions. Only a few pedal turns away is the famous Bentlage Monastery directly on the Ems. A walk through the gardens to the Salinenpark is highly recommended. A visit to the museum rounds off your stay.

Tip: You can learn even more about the Salinenpark in Rheine on a themed tour.

The Ems Cycle Route is your first companion on your cycle tour. After a short time you have reached the rural Münsterland and are cycling through the green landscape. On your way towards Emsdetten, you will always have a view of the Ems and its meadows and enjoy the serenity of the region. When the weather is nice, a canoe trip on the Ems is a great change of pace. The cafés in the pedestrian zone of Emsdetten invite you to take a break. From the Ems cycle path you now change to the NaTourismusRoute in the direction of Steinfurt. Fields and meadows dominate the landscape on the far horizon. The cycle path leads you past small farming communities to your destination, Steinfurt-Borghorst, with practically no ascents.

Today, the castles and palaces of the northern Münsterland take over. From your accommodation you drive through the wild and romantic Bagno Park to the moated castle of Steinfurt. The gatehouse of the castle is one of the most popular photo motifs in the region. Directly afterwards, the alleys of the old town invite you to take a short tour of the district town. Garden lovers should not miss a visit to the district educational garden. In spring, the blossoming of the fruit trees creates a veritable sea of colour.

Haus Welbergen near Ochtrup is the next highlight of the cycle tour. The moated castle surprises with its exceptionally beautiful gardens. Situated in the middle of a small forest, Haus Welbergen is one of the most idyllic places in Münsterland. At the end of the stage, the hilltop castle of Bad Bentheim awaits you. This mighty structure stands imposingly above the small town. End the day with a stroll through the alleys of the town.

Before you get back in the saddle, you should visit Bentheim Castle. The view from the castle battlements over the spa gardens and the Münsterland is unique. In the shadow of the mighty Powder Tower, you can admire historical coins and carriages in the museum. The cycle tour leads through the gentle landscape of the Münsterland back to Rheine. Again and again, small streams cross the paths and the grass of the meadows sways in the wind. This leaves enough time for a visit to the nature zoo in Rheine.