Day 1 - Arrival in Münster
Check-in from 15:00 at the hotel and option to visit the nearby city centre. At Prinzipalmarket with its gabled houses, the village square, and on the green Promenadenring you will get your first glance of this charming city.
Day 2 - Münster – Davensberg (34 or 60 km)
Along the Dortmund-Ems Canal and through Boniburger Wald you will reach the magical pilgrimage town of Telgte via Hansdorf. The city with its Baroque chapel and the gregarious market square is located right on the shore of the Ems, and it is a popular destination for cyclists. Through meadows and fields we continue to the historical Pleistermühle with country inn and beer garden. This is where you will reach the romantic Werse. This varied cycling trail along the river gives you an opportunity to enjoy pure nature. A magical view of Haus Bispink near Rinkerode, a historical farmstead, and the feudal estate Haus Borg. The last part of this leg will lead you through the mysterious forest area of Davert, which is close to nature, and to Castle Davensburg.
Day 3 - Davensberg – Lüdinghausen (29 or 50 km)
Today’s stage has two divine moated castles. On rural routes, you will first reach the Baroque Castle Westerwinkel. After crossing the nature reserve of Ichterloh with its beautiful picnic place at the 1,000-year-old oak you will soon reach Castle Nordkirchen, also referred to as “Westphalia’s Versailles” and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the castle courtyard, the restaurant invites you to take a break and to take in the stunning view of the estate. You continue to cycle along the charming Stever river to Lüdinghausen, a city home to a moated castle. Overnight stay near the castle buildings.
Day 4 - Lüdinghausen – Senden (44 or 65 km)
Today starts with visits to Burg Lüdinghausen and Burg Vischering, one of the most beautiful fortified castles. We continue along Halterner Borkenberge towards Halterner Stausee (reservoir). The cafés on the shore of the lake invite you to stop by or to jump into the cool water of this swimming lake. On the northern side of the Borkenberge, you will cycle through fields, forests, and meadows, mostly on the 100-castles route all the way to Haus Visbeck and further to Senden. The shorter route takes you along the Olfener Steverauen and into the rose village of Seppenrade before you cycle on the 100 castles route to Senden.
Day 5 - Senden – Billerbeck (29 km or 47 km)
Today‘s cycle tour takes you north along the River Stever through green parkland to the watermill in the Stevertal valley. In the state-approved resort of Billerbeck, you will discover historic storage houses, inviting cafés and restaurants on the picturesque Johanniskirchplatz square. At Kolvenburg Castle, the romantic Martinikirchplatz square and in the town centre around the cathedral, you will discover typical Westphalian architecture and cosiness. In Billerbeck, you can decide whether to extend the tour: along the Berkel and via the Münsterland cycle path, you will reach the moated castle of Darfeld at the foot of the Baumberge hills, one of the most impressive castle complexes in the Münsterland region, built on two islands. With beautiful views of the gently rolling landscape, the route takes you back to Billerbeck.
Day 6 - Billerbeck – Münster (38 km)
Today you have plenty of time to discover all sides of Münsterland. The first stretch is along a track around the Baumberge hills to the Schlauchbach stream and just before Havixbeck. You will find the impressive Castle Hülshoff in the middle of stunning grounds, the house in which poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff was born. Since 2012, seeing the castle from inside and enjoying the food in the castle yard is possible. Haus Vögeding and Haus Rüschhaus are two other estates worth seeing on the route. Another highlight awaits you at the end of the tour with the castle in Münster. Built by J. C. Schlaun, since 1954 it has housed the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität. Behind the castle, you will find the beautiful botanical garden.
Day 7 - Münster
End of the tour after breakfast or extension day. If you would like to use the day for other activities, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and use the hire bikes until 18:00.
Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.
Also available for booking - extension day:
Münster – Sculpture Projects (18 km)
Booking an extra night gives you time to experience art in the open. Every 10 years the ‚Skulptur Projekte‘ take place in Münster and leaves its mark around the city by integrating some of the sculptures in the urban landscape. Off cycling towards Aasee, a large artificial lake in the centre of Münster. Here you will find the ‚Giant Pool Balls‘ by Claes Oldenburg, perhaps the most well-known work of the Skulptur Projekte. Passing Wilhelms University, you will reach the Promenade, a car-free asphalt cycle path that takes you around the city centre. It is worth visiting the Friedensaal in the Town Hall, Dom and/or one of the many museums. Or wander through the city in typical Westphalian calm by popping into one of the typical cafés, stroll around the “Prinzipalmarkt” and bring your tour to a relaxing end.
