Cycling Tour 100 Castles Route West Course

Haltern am See offers an exceptionally wide range of leisure activities. The heart of the town beats on the market square with the historic town hall. Stroll through the alleys of the old town with its numerous shops, restaurants and cafés. In fine weather, a cruise on the lake is wonderful. The blue waters are home to countless water sports enthusiasts. Culture lovers should definitely visit the famous LWL Roman Museum. Nature lovers are drawn to the sandy paths of the Westruper Heide just outside the city.

A visit to the LWL Roman Museum in Haltern am See is certainly worthwhile and a nice start to your trip. Then your path leads west through the wooded landscape of the Hohe Mark to Lembeck Castle with its beautiful gardens. It's not far now to your first stage destination, the small town of Raesfeld. The townscape is dominated by the imposing moated castle. The restaurants at and around the castle are just the right places to stop at the end of the stage. The adjacent Renaissance zoo is particularly worth seeing. More information about the castle and the zoo can be found in the adjacent nature park house.

From Raesfeld your way leads you to Bocholt. This lively town in the western Münsterland region invites you to take a stroll. A visit to the textile museum should not be missing from your itinerary. After leaving Bocholt on the 100 castles route, you will approach your destination Isselburg. Anholt moated castle is one of the highlights of this tour. Take some time to explore the grounds. Next to the castle is Anholter Schweiz, a nature reserve and park that is not to be missed.

On the fourth day, a day stage along the Dutch border awaits you with just under 51 kilometres. This section of the route is characterised by "contact" with the neighbouring Netherlands. The small towns of Dinxperlo (NL) and Suderwick (D) offer a special experience. To cross the border, you only have to change sides of the road. Rhede Castle and the extraordinary Gemen Castle are the most beautiful historical buildings on this stage.

On a flat stretch, the route now takes you very close to the Dutch border. If you started early, it's worth making a detour to the town of Winterswijk. A visit is particularly appealing on market days. After this border experience, you return to the 100 castles route in the direction of Ahaus. In the middle of the town lies the mighty Ahaus Castle. A tour of the castle not only offers new perspectives, but you will also come across the small school museum with its lovely collection. Take some time and observe the lively hustle and bustle in the town centre.

Behind Ahaus you reach the Burgmannshöfe Nienborg near Heek. A wonderful place where time passes a little more slowly. From now on, the route takes you back south towards Coesfeld. The fields and meadows of the park landscape accompany you on the ride through the heart of the region. The town of Coesfeld offers a wide range of cultural activities. A visit to the Loburg House should be on your agenda, as should a short drive to the new Coesfeld Concert Theatre. With a bit of luck, you'll get tickets for one of the outstanding events.

The cycle path leads back into the Hohe Mark Nature Park, past Buldern Castle, to Dülmen. In the Merfelder Bruch you will come across the home of Europe's last wild horses. With a bit of luck you can observe the approx. 400 wild horses in their natural habitat. The market square in Dülmen is a hive of activity with numerous shops and a wide range of restaurants. From Dülmen you cycle along meadows and fields past Haus Visbeck and Schloss Sythen back to your starting point in Haltern am See. If the weather is good, you should make a stop at the Silver Lakes. The sandy beach is particularly popular in the summer months.