Hermannshöhen - Stage 01 from Rheine to Hörstel

The stage at a glance:
Starting and ending point of the stage
The route starts at the train station in Rheine in the flat Münsterland and leads along the gently flowing Bevergerner Aa to the idyllic town center of Bevergern. Length of the stage in kilometers / altitude meters / route character
The stage is about 20 kilometers long, mostly flat and easily walkable. Landscape highlights
The route runs from the picturesque Emsauen into the drier and nutrient-poorer areas of Gellendorfer Mark and the "Wildes Weddenfeld". This is an inland dune landscape that is almost entirely wooded. Characterized by old forests, pines, gnarled oaks, but also by flowering nutrient-poor grasslands, heath areas, and junipers, the landscape is unique and fascinating. Note: On warm summer days, the pines emit their very special scent and remind of a pine grove on the Mediterranean.
Highlights on the route
The recreation area Bentlage in Rheine offers a nice combination of nature and culture. The former saltworks in the Salinenpark, between green areas and old tree stands with historic buildings, recalls the time of salt production. Here is also the Naturzoo Rheine, which with its native and exotic animals is a popular destination for families.

The lock system of the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Hörstel is a technical masterpiece. Here visitors can watch ships passing through and get an impression of how the locks work.

The Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst in Hörstel is a former monastery that is now used as an art and cultural center. Here you can not only visit exhibitions, but also explore the historic monastery church with mill, bakery, and brewery.

The historic town center of Bevergern in Hörstel has numerous well-preserved half-timbered houses and small shops.

You can also find a good interactive map of Outdooractive with the stage here.