Shot from the shore with a view of Vischering Castle in Münsterland, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

Mün­ster­land


Cyc­ling, horse rid­ing and 100 castles

Münsterland is known as North Rhine-Westphalia’s park landscape and equestrian region. But the region need not only be explored on horseback; a network of hundreds of kilometres of cycle trails runs throughout the expansive, flat landscapes, with numerous castles, fortresses and the adjoining parks contributing to its idyllic appearance.

Wild horses Dülmen, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

A para­dise for cyc­lists and riders

Münsterland is a popular and well-known cycling region because the cycle tours can be divided into standardised honeycomb networks. So hobby cyclists can divide the long routes into comfortable day trips or short stages. Highlights of the region include the 100-Schlösser-Route (100 Castles Route) or the Flamingo Route. This leads to Zwillbrocker Venn, a nature conservation area inhabited by wild flamingos.

Münsterland is known as an equestrian region primarily because of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Stud in Warendorf. Visitors particularly love the Warendorf Stallion Parade and the Symphony of the Stallions, where the most beautiful animals show off their abilities. The Münsterland equestrian region also offers other four-legged favourites with the public, who do not appear in sporting circles but rather in the heart of nature: Hohe Mark Nature Park is home to almost 400 wild horses who are, for the most part, left to their own devices. The annual wild horse round-up attracts many visitors, when the herd is driven down the wild horse trail to Merfelder Bruch in Dulmen, in order to round-up the one-year-old stallions.

View of the historic city hall in Münster, © Tourismus NRW e.V.

His­tor­ic­al Mün­ster

In the heart of the park landscapes and between the pristine forest and moorland areas of Münsterland, visitors can stroll around small towns with historical town centres. The biggest city in the region is Münster. Here, there are twice as many bicycles as inhabitants. The many green areas and the Aasee lake, the old town with its cathedral and the Prinzipalmarkt as well as the Prince Bishop's Castle make the university city as picturesque as it is liveable.

  • St. Lamberti Münster as seen from the Prinzipalmarkt, © Ralph Sondermann, Tourismus NRW e.V.
    Reiten in der Münsterländer Parklandschaft, © Matthias Duschner
    View of Vischering castle with the lying cushion in the courtyard from the air, © Tourismus NRW e.V.
  • Wildgehege Wildpferde auf der Wiese, © Tourismus NRW e.V.
    Schloss Nordkirchen in Münsterland, © Oliver Franke, Tourismus NRW e.V.
    A typical Baunerhof in Münsterland, © Oliver Franke, Tourismus NRW e.V.

More in­form­a­tion

Discover it now!

Hik­ing, cyc­ling & well­ness

Dis­cov­er­ies in the re­gion Mün­ster­land

Idyllische Parks bieten sich auf dem Töddenland-Radweg für Pausen an, © Stadtmarketing Ibbenbüren GmbH

Töd­den­land Cycle Path

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Relaxed cycling in Münsterland, © Oliver Franke, Tourismus NRW e.V

Re­laxed cyc­ling in Mün­ster­land

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Burg Hülshoff in Havixbeck, © Münsterland e.V.

100-Castles-Route

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Der Vechtetalradweg verläuft immer an der Vechte entlang, © Grafschaft Bentheim Tourismus e.V.

Vec­htet­al route

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Cul­ture, shop­ping & events

Dis­cov­er­ies in the re­gion Mün­ster­land

Schloss Anholt gilt als eines der größten und schönsten Wasserschlösser des Münsterlands, © Andreas Lechtape

An­holt Castle and Park An­holt

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Dr. Jörg Albrecht - Founding Director and Artistic Director of the Center for Literature, © Ralph Sondermann, Tourismus NRW e.V.

Jörg Al­brecht - City, Land, Castle

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Side profile of the Türmerin with a view of St Paul's Cathedral Münste, © Ralph Sondermann, Tourismus NRW e.V.

300 steps to hap­pi­ness: Ger­manys only tower­keep­er

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Schloss Nordkirchen & Schlosspark, © Johannes Höhn

Nordkirchen Castle Nordkirchen

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Blick in den Innenhof von Burg Hülshoff, © Ralph Sondermann, Tourismus NRW e.V.

Burg Hülshoff in Havixbeck

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