Of moated castles and castle manors

Your cycle tour starts in the picturesque old town of Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt. Around the market square and in the narrow streets, a wonderful breeze of bygone times is blowing. Here, splendid stone houses are lined up with bourgeois half-timbered houses and make up Burgsteinfurt's unique flair. A stroll through the old town is definitely worthwhile before you get on your bike and start your day's ride.
When you leave the old town behind you, you will soon see Steinfurt Castle surrounded by mighty moats on Burgstraße. The oldest moated castle in Westphalia stands on a circular island surrounded by the Steinfurter Aa river. It was first mentioned in 1129 and in its shadow the first market settlement developed, which later became Steinfurt. The castle is privately owned and therefore not open to visitors. From the street, however, you have a wonderful view past the gatehouse and across the water to the historic building.

Now it's getting green! Past the castle mill, the route leads directly to the Bagno - one of the most beautiful leisure facilities that the Münsterland region has to offer. More than 200 years ago, opulent water features, extraordinary buildings and a sea of flowers made the 50-hectare "leisure park" a breathtaking place that attracted citizens from near and far. Traces of this era can still be discovered today on the "Bagno Tour": Monuments, sculptures and, last but not least, the lavishly restored concert gallery take you back to the 18th century and give room for plenty of imagination.

Please note: Due to a bridge closure, the circular route currently only touches the southern part of the Bagno. If you would like to take a closer look at the green areas, we recommend taking the access road from Burgsteinfurt at the Bagno sports ground.

As soon as you leave the greenery of the Bagno and the built-up area of Borghorst behind you, the vastness of the Münsterland parkland opens up to you. Occasionally, a picnic table at the edge of the path invites you to take a break and you have the opportunity to let your gaze glide over fields and along small sections of forest.

About halfway between Borghorst and Horstmar in the farming community of Alst, the next highlight awaits you just a few metres off the trail. Hidden under trees and surrounded by a moat is the Renaissance moated castle Haus Alst. A special feature of the old walls are the so-called "bacon layers": the masonry with alternating red bricks and light yellow Baumberg sandstone is reminiscent of a good Westphalian ham. Haus Alst is privately owned, but you can get a good overview of the castle complex by standing in the passageway.

The next stage takes you to the historic town centre of Horstmar, surrounded by fields, meadows and woodland and situated in a hollow in the valley. Horstmar is known asthe"town of Burgmannshöfe", as four of the eight original Burgmannshöfe are still preserved today and tell of their former protective function for the town. The town's almost square layout is also unique in Münsterland, with the town hall and Gothic hall church in the centre. Let yourself drift through the idyllic town, past the magnificent walls of the Burgmannshöfe Münsterhof, Sendenhof, Merveldter Hof and Borchorster Hof.

On your way to Schöppingen, you will pass through the pilgrimage site of Eggerode. For hundreds of years, pilgrims have been drawn to this place to worship the image of the Virgin Mary - an enthroned Madonna made of wood - in the Chapel of Grace. The tranquillity and relaxation of this picturesque little place will surely be transmitted to you too. We think it's a real insider tip: A real insider tip!

Cycle along the Vechte nature reserve towards Schöppingen. The town welcomes you in its dreamy way. In the historic town centre, the Old Town Hall with its red and white shutters beams at you and the St. Brictius Church poses with its mighty-looking tower. The artists' village of Schöppingen has become famous far beyond the town's borders. Young artists show their creative works of art in the studios and event rooms of the foundation, which can also be found in the townscape in special projects.

Back in the saddle, we continue northwards - parallel to the Vechte - where our circular tour crosses the "Vecht town" of Metelen . If you would like to make a stopover here, we recommend a visit to the Kornwassermühle mill located north of the collegiate church on the Vechte. On your final stage towards Burgsteinfurt, you will cycle through the natural paradise of Metelener Heide. In the cool shade of the trees, you can once again enjoy the vast greenery of nature and the wildlife before our circular tour ends in Burgsteinfurt.