Münsterland encompasses the countryside between the Lippe river, the Teutoburg Forest, Lower Saxony's Emsland and the Netherlands. The region is parkland structured by individual ridges, which mostly features a rural character - of course with the exception of the City of Münster. The actual history of the Münsterland began here during the end of the 8^th century with the foundation of a "Monasterium" (Latin for monastery) by the Frisian missionary Liudger. The city name "Münster" is derived from Monasterium. The city particularly made a name for itself in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. The "Anabaptist" movement and the "Peace of Westphalia" - which reconciled Europeans for the first time - are mentioned as key words. Münsterland also features well over a hundred moated castles which are distributed throughout the entire region.
The historic localities are linked through the so-called "Pättkes" - the narrow bicycle paths which are typical for the region. The "Radelpark Münsterland" ("Münsterland Bicycle Park") is comprised of more than 4,000 off-road bicycle path kilometres. Horse breeding and horseback riding are as natural here as bicycling.

Further info on Münsterland is available at:
www.muensterland-tourismus.de

Münsterland Regions
Region Baumberge
Region Hohe Mark
Region Rheine/Ems
Region City of Münster
Region Steinfurter Land
Region Tecklenburger Land
Region Warendorfer Land
Region Westmünsterland
Region Lippe/Stever

Baumberge
Even if someone from the Alps will smile if the "Baumberge" ("tree-covered mountains") in the "flat Münsterland" are talked about, the region is nonetheless proud of this highest elevation in the Münsterland. The "Longinus Tower" - an observation tower from which one has a beautiful long-range view of the entire Münsterland with nice weather - is located on the "Westeberg", the highest point of the Baumberge highlands.
Homepage Baumberge

Hohe Mark
The Hohe Mark Nature Park represents a "bridge" from the Münsterland to the Lower Rhine and Ruhr regions. It is an important holiday and greenbelt recreation area in the region. A broad range of cultural offers enables an eventful stay with repeated new impressions.
Natural and cultural monuments are alternately featured here: For instance, these monuments include the tracts of forest around the Haltern Reservoir and the wild horse reserve in Dülmen, the (moated) castles at Anholt, Velen and Raesfeld as well as the Roman Museum in Haltern and the Textile Museum in Bocholt.

Towns in the Hohe Mark region:
Isselburg
Bocholt
Rhede
Borken
Velen
Raesfeld
Heiden
Reken
Haltern
Dülmen

Region Rheine/Ems
Rheine was established at the Ems River Ford near the present-day weir. In 1327 the Bishop of Münster conferred the rights of municipality upon Rheine, and soon thereafter erected the weir so that the ford was no longer passable. In addition to the historic public halls and the "Kannegießerhaus", the Ems River Weir is among the city's interesting attractions.
Homepage City of Rheine

City of Münster
One does not notice that the Westphalian metropolis is 1,200 years old. The contrasts of old and young characterise Münster's cityscape. Nearly 60,000 students bring life to the university city. This includes innumerable bicycles. Nowhere in Germany will you find such a density of pushbikes. During a tour through the city you'll encounter worthwhile architecture at every turn. To start with, this entails the churches - first and foremost the Cathedral that was consecrated in 1264 in honour of the Apostle Paul. Three cages, in which the Anabaptist leaders starved to death, are still suspended from the tower of the Lamberti Church. The "Principal Market" with its narrow gables and arcades was reconstructed in simplified form after the last war; the same goes for the gothic town hall with the "Hall of Peace". The Aasee (lake) offers a variety of leisure time opportunities such as rowing and paddleboats.
Homepage City of Münster

Steinfurter Land
From various hillocks such as in Altenberge or near Horstmar one has a great view far across the green parkland. In addition to the Bentheim High Fortress, the trademark of the Steinfurter Land is Steinfurt Castle itself, one of the oldest and mightiest moated castles in the Münsterland - and one of the most beautiful, with extraordinary character! Since the flat countryside had neither high mountains nor cliffs as protection against enemies, the master builder at that time constructed broad moats and artificial islands on which the fortifications were erected. In addition to numerous museums, mills and lakes, the pottery town Ochtrup, North Rhineland-Westphalia's largest bird park in Metelen and Europe's oldest free-standing concert hall in the "Bagno" at Burgsteinfurt are especially worthwhile attractions in the Steinfurter Land.
Towns in the Steinfurter Land:
Steinfurt
Bad Bentheim
Ochtrup
Metelen
Horstmar
Laer
Nordwalde
Altenberge
Emsdetten

Tecklenburger Land
The Tecklenburger Land begins where the foothills of the Teutoburg Forest with its hilly landscape pass into the north German lowlands. The region is ideal for hiking and bicycling. The idyllic town Tecklenburg with its beautiful half-timbered houses is situated on the crest of the Teutoburg Forest. For instance, one can experience outdoor musicals at the large-scale open-air theatre. The "Haus Marck" moated castle, the mining town Ibbenbüren with the summer sled run and the Recker Moor are also worth visiting.
Towns in the Tecklenburger Land:
Tecklenburg
Ibbenbüren
Mettingen

Warendorfer Land
The parkland district Warendorf is located in the heart of the Münsterland. Histories and traditions are readable on many monuments and buildings. Castles and manors as well as monasteries and churches have become popular attractions in the Warendorf surroundings.
"Old things reconsidered" - under this motto the museums in the Warendorf parkland invite visitors to indulge in a cultural experience. The Cavalry Museum "Haus Vornholz" in Ennigerloh-Ostenfelde and the Washing Machine Museum in Ostbevern-Brock are also worth a visit.
Towns:
Warendorf
Ahlen
Beckum
Telgte

Westmünsterland
Cycle along old "customs & smuggler's paths": The Westmünsterland and the neighbouring Netherlands are a bicycling paradise that is outstandingly suitable for extended bicycle touring. Free-roaming flamingos in the nature reserve "Zwillbrocker Venn" in Vreden and many historic windmills greet the cross-border visitors along their way through the "flat land".
The region also offers the unique opportunity to rediscover old handicrafts: In Ahaus you can look over the shoulder of wooden-shoe makers as they work, and the Bell Museum in Gescher reveals the secret of manufacturing church bells.
Towns in Westmünsterland:
Ahaus
Gescher
Gronau
Heek
Legden
Schöppingen
Stadtlohn
Südlohn
Vreden

Region Lippe/Stever
Castles light up in the water and encourage dreams: Some of the most beautiful moated fortresses and castles in the Münsterland can be discovered in the region between the Lippe and Stever rivers. Among these castles are, for instance, the medieval citadel Vischering, the manorial Nordkirchen Castle and Westerwinkel Castle in Ascheberg.
You'll not only encounter ships along the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Olfen, but also at the Ship Museum in Senden - a popular special feature in the inland area. Old half-timbered houses and a gothic town hall are worth a stroll through town in Werne - when coal was being sought there, one came upon a curative saline spring ...
Towns:
Lüdinghausen
Senden
Werne