Cycling tour 100 Castles Route North Course

Use the time to stroll through one of Germany's most attractive cities and enjoy the flair of this lovely university town. Numerous museums, such as the Picasso Museum or the Museum of Art and Culture, invite you to visit. The city shows its "green" side at Lake Aasee and in the botanical garden at Münster Castle. Of course, you shouldn't miss the Prinzipalmarkt and the surrounding streets with their beautiful buildings.

Johann Conrad Schlaun's baroque buildings, such as the castle or the Erbdrostenhof, characterise the lively city of Münster. Your journey takes you from Münster past Haus Rüschhaus to Havixbeck. At Hülshoff Castle you follow in the footsteps of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. The Droste Museum is well worth a visit. The rest of the route takes you into the Baumberge mountains to Billerbeck with its Kolvenburg castle and beautiful town centre. You will reach Rosendahl through one of the most beautiful landscapes in the region. From there, it is not far to your destination Horstmar with its beautiful town centre.

Shortly after Horstmar and the Burgmannshöfe, you will reach Steinfurt. Enjoy the magnificent Bagno park with its unique concert hall, admire the mighty moated castle and spend some time in the old town centre. If you are interested in plants and gardens, the district educational garden is the right place for you. The route now leads through the flat parkland of the Münsterland region to Ochtrup with the moated castle of Haus Welbergen. The route now runs very close to the Dutch border and takes you to Bad Bentheim. In an imposing location, Höhenburg Bentheim Castle (currently closed) watches over the town. The numerous shops invite you to take a stroll at the end of the day.

On this day, the Münsterland presents itself from its leisurely side. You head towards the town of Rheine on quiet paths. In the middle of the town is the Falkenhof, which is well worth seeing and can be combined with a walk through the town. You should not miss the Bentlage Monastery. The extensive grounds with the magnificent salt pans are an oasis of peace. Interesting and high-quality art exhibitions are held in the monastery itself. A treat for every art lover. Another cultural highlight is offered only a few kilometres away by the beautiful Gravenhorst Monastery with its art house worth seeing. Numerous events and exhibitions invite you to linger. The last stage of the day takes you to Ibbenbüren.

Today you will reach the "balcony of the Münsterland", the Tecklenburger Land. Take some time to start and enjoy a stroll through the city centre. Nearby are the Dörenther Cliffs and the famous rock formation "Hockendes Weib". The route now becomes hillier and leads along the edge of the Teutoburg Forest to Tecklenburg with its very interesting old town. Again and again there are magnificent views over large parts of the Münsterland. You will reach Bad Iburg on one of the most beautiful routes in the region. The famous Iburg Castle is located directly adjacent to the town centre.

The 100 Castles Route takes you back to the plains of the Münsterland on the last day. Admire the beautiful double castle complex Harkotten and the gems Loburg Castle and the houses Haus Langen and Haus Dyckburg. A walk through the park at Loburg Castle is particularly worthwhile. Slowly you reach the rural surroundings of Münster and finally the heart of Münsterland. Here your journey ends at the starting point.