Lippe(n)bekenntnis - castles, nature and culinary delights await you

Green meadows, wide fields, small villages - pure idyll awaits you in Lippe Valley. And as the name of the municipality suggests, the river Lippe is the main feature of the village. These are ideal conditions for beautiful cycling tours with picturesque views. But the village itself is also sure to delight you: Historical buildings in Lippetal as well as in neighbouring Wadersloh tell exciting stories that are worth learning.
Here are some ideas for excursions and routes for a three-day short break that will convince you to travel to Lippetal. With these inspirations, the days will fly by!

Get to know Lippe Valley

You have arrived in Lippetal! After your arrival, you will certainly want to stretch your legs and explore the municipality a little. The best place to start your 4.6 km long walk is at the town hall. Continue on to the listed Haus Biele and the St. Ida pilgrimage basilica. Finally you reach Hovestadt Castle, a jewel of the Lippe Renaissance. The moated castle stands imposingly in the middle of a well-tended baroque park.

Now it's time for dinner. If you fancy some typical Westphalian fare, we recommend a visit to Stratbückers. This traditional restaurant is known above all for its high-quality beef from its own Glan cattle breeding, which is even available to take away (Dosengold). In the summer months you should make yourself comfortable in the beautiful beer garden.

Accommodation tip: One of the top places to stay in Lippe Valley is Haus Tourneur. The country-style bed & breakfast has a large garden with a view of the Lippe meadows. It offers lovingly and individually designed rooms, some with sauna and a holiday flat with fireplace. The breakfast is rich and regional. Incidentally, the offer includes a classic English "sundowner" as well as the possibility of a game of cricket in the garden.

Download map walk

Great adventure tour on the bike

The best way to discover the Münsterland is by bike! After a hearty breakfast, off you go on your bike tour! The route shown in the map below is ideal for this: It is 62 km long and packed with many beautiful sites.

Observation tower at the Ahsewiesen
© Münsterland e.V./Christoph Partsch

Nature Experience Shire

The first highlight is the Auenland nature experience. From 2009 to 2013, new habitats for animals and plants were created here in the floodplains of the Lippe and Ahse rivers. Observe wildlife from the 9-metre-high observation tower at the Ahsewiesen meadows, enjoy the green idyll and learn more about the nature recreation area from the many information boards.

Tip: Don't forget binoculars! This makes observing the animals even more exciting.

House Assen
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting

House Assen

The tour continues to Haus Assen in Lippborg. With its thousand-year history, it is one of the oldest buildings in the area. Take a leisurely picnic break here with a photo stop at the moat. Group tours are also available on request and offer a great journey through history.

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Liesborn Abbey Museum
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting

Liesborn Abbey Museum

The Liesborn Abbey Museum in Wadersloh awaits you at your next stop. Founded in 815 as a ladies' convent, it once developed into one of the most important monasteries of the Münster diocese. Since 1966 it has served as a place of culture and encounter: its impressive collection of art and cultural history makes it one of the most important museums in Westphalia.

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Pilgrimage Basilica St. Ida
© Münsterland e.V./Christoph Partsch

Pilgrimage Basilica St. Ida

Finally, you arrive back in Lippetal. The pilgrimage basilica of St. Ida is already waiting for you here. A visit to the crypt in the basement of the church is recommended, as it contains, among other things, the family tomb of the Counts of Plettenberg and the foundation walls of the predecessor churches, which were uncovered during excavations in 1975. Exciting!

After your tour, it's time for a breather before dinner. Wouldn't now be the perfect time for an aperitif in the garden? If you stay overnight at Haus Tourneur, a sundowner is included. In the garden you can enjoy the wide view of the Lippe meadows. Or how about a game of cricket? That's how relaxing a holiday should be!

You can round off the day in the evening at Gasthof Willenbrink, for example. The hotel and restaurant with excellent German cuisine places great emphasis on regional ingredients and a varied menu. Don't forget the first-class wine and spirits selection.

Cycling route 2nd day

Great adventure tour GPS

A short adventure tour at the end

The suitcases are packed and the last day of your trip is approaching. You should use it for a small but nice bike tour! Some interesting sights and picturesque views await you on the 24 km long route. For example, you can take a short detour to the Klostermersch lookout tower. From there you have a beautiful view of the renaturalised Lippe.

You can take a short break on the tour at Baumhoers Lippeauenblick farm. Under the motto "Café, farm and more!" you can enjoy coffee and cake here from April to October, but also the view of the cow pasture.

About halfway along the trail, you will see the Haus Heerfeld manor in Wadersloh. It lies idyllically and wonderfully quietly on the edge of the Lippeaue nature reserve. The huge park of the house with its many sculptures is impressive. Stroll through the park and take a moment to let the beauty of the estate take effect on you. From here, head back towards the centre of Lippe Valley.

The route at a glance

Small adventure tour GPS

Tips for your trip

Tips for overnight stays

Haus Tourneur is one of the top addresses when it comes to beautiful places to stay in Lippe Valley. It is located in the village of Herzfeld in a quiet location, making it a starting point for hiking and cycling tours. Here you can get an offer with two overnight stays including breakfast, welcome drink and sundowner.

Tips on bike hire

Would you like to rent a bicycle or e-bike for your trip? At Fortmeier's bike rental you can choose a suitable bike - it will then be delivered to your accommodation in Lippetal.

Tips on how to get there

Arriving by train:

Lippetal does not have its own railway station. If you are still travelling by public transport, get off at the bus stop "Herzfeld Markt - Lippetal".

Arriving by car:

Lippetal is well connected to the long-distance road network via the A2 (Ruhrgebiet-Berlin, Autohof Lippetal) and A44 (Dortmund-Kassel) motorways.

The Münsterland in the blog

Travelsanne tested this travel inspiration for you

The blogger Sanne from the blog Travelsanne was on the road for three days in southern Münsterland. In her blog post, you will get authentic and honest impressions of Lippe Valley and its surroundings. In addition, there is a lot of interesting background information on the attractions visited and helpful insider tips.

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