Turnip Route

Cycling and the beetroot
Sugar beet syrup, turnip vegetable or beet gratin, beetroots contain many vitamins, minerals, and make a valuable contribution to the health of young and old alike.
For a long time, the healthy tuber was banned from the kitchen. How fortunate that it has made a comeback in recent years and even inspires top chefs to create delicious gourmet dishes.
There is a great variety of beets, whether Gatower Kugel, Bavarian turnip or Mairübe, all convince with a delicate taste, high nutritional value, and low calorie content.
Cyclists don't need to worry about calories anyway. They burn off a large portion on every bike ride.

Regarding beet syrup on the cycle path
The beet route runs through the fertile Lipperland and starts in Bad Salzuflen. On the 39 km long bike route, you will discover the historic salt-boiling town and the holiday region of Bad Salzuflen, the Lippe farmsteads, where beet cultivation still takes place today. Noteworthy are the well-known LWL Museum Ziegelei Lage (near Holzkirchen-Sylbach) and the sustainable environmental center Heerser Mühle, whose grounds are open year-round for environmental education and nature-oriented living.

From Paulinenquelle to the beet field
After leaving Paulinenquelle at Salzhof towards the train station, we wonder how many beet fields we will see along the way. 10, 30, or even 60 fields?
On traffic-free and flat cycle paths, we pedal through the agriculturally shaped Lippe region and districts of Bad Salzuflen.
The Salzufler district of Lockhausen is particularly popular in spring as a venue for poppy flower blooms. The poppy flowers not only bloom in the well-known red color but also in bright violet!
In between, we also discover beet fields and the beet signposts that guide us on the beet route. You can also ride the bike tour in the opposite direction. The signposts reliably guide you in both directions.

Birdwatching trail in the middle of the Bexter Forest
After leaving Lockhausen behind, we reach the Bexter Forest to our right in a few kilometers. The rich vegetation attracts numerous insects, birds, and small creatures.
The 1.5 km long round makes us listen, pause, and observe. Which bird is chirping right now? This birdwatching trail offers exciting nature puzzles to the cycling enthusiast.

Hovedissen: Manor estate and half-timbered buildings
Before our next stop in Leopoldshöhe, we pass by the manor estate in Hovedissen, which was first mentioned in a document in 1226. The beet takes center stage on the grounds of the typical Lippe farmstead with whitewashed walls and half-timbered structure. The main focus at the farm is on agriculture, seed breeding, and biotechnological research.
The sugar beet has even made it into the coat of arms of the municipality of Leopoldshöhe.
On our circular tour, we pass by the marketplace in Leopoldshöhe with its stately church and diverse gastronomy. For a short break, we treat ourselves to a delicious ice cream from an ice cream parlor.
Next, we visit the lovingly designed local history museum at the former Eickmeyer farmstead. The impressive half-timbered house from 1793 houses exhibits and panels with background knowledge on agriculture, as well as beet and vegetable cultivation. We stand in awe of the tools and learn about their use by the farmers.

Heading towards Lage
After the excursion, we cycle towards Lage through Krentruperhagen, passing by Ohrsen and encounter the river Werre before reaching the city center.

Sights in Lage (Lippe)
In the bike-friendly and modern city center of Lage, you can admire the two-story town hall. Initially planned by the Detmold architect Merckel, the remarkable bay window was supposed to have a tower attachment. However, this was never carried out. From 1904 to 1905, a reconstruction was carried out by the city architect Gustav Meßmann from Lage. You can still admire the higher roof truss, the roof turret, and the town hall clock today.
A historic prison house, once the Kroos house, is located on "Der Plaß" between Rhienstraße and Friedrichstraße. The lovingly restored house with the number 1 now houses the local branch of the Lippe Heimatbund. Particularly worth seeing in the summer is the blooming, idyllic garden at the house.
At Lagenser Marktplatz, you will see the Zieglerbrunnen. This is where brickmaster and brickworkers once closed their work contracts.

Ziegeleimuseum Lage
After the city tour of Lage, we hop back on our bikes and cycle about 5 km north.
The LWL Museum Ziegelei Lage is located on the historical grounds of the former 20th-century brickworks on the outskirts of the Holzkirchen-Sylbach district. Initially, the bricks were produced by hand. Later, the production switched to machines.
The history of brick production, the production and firing of bricks, as well as the former residence of the founder Gustav Beermann can be visited as part of a tour.
After the tour and making your own brick, the outdoor terrace at the museum entrance invites you to relax. Whether for coffee and cake, ice cream, or something savory, the kitchen crew sweetens every stay at the LWL Museum Ziegelei Lage.

Pedaling along the riverbank
The wheels roll along the Werre to the next pit stop.
Along the way, we discover beet and vegetable fields on both sides of the bike path as far as the eye can see. Have you counted how many beet fields lie along the bike path?

After a few minutes, we reach one of the last highlights of the beet route, the Umweltzentrum Heerser Mühle.
Immerse yourself in the power of nature at the mill site and observe the pond through a willow lattice, admire the diligent bees at their bee hotels, or listen to the Werre river while standing in the water at the shallow shore for refreshment.
The association "Umweltzentrum Heerser Mühle e. V." is the sponsor of the environmental center and a nonprofit, recognized provider of free youth welfare services. For many years, the environmental center has been involved in nature conservation and environmental education.

Experience a variety of healthy vegetables
For the last kilometers along the Werre, we pedal eagerly. At the Hoffmannswiesen, we briefly stop to learn about the fruit tree varieties on the fruit teaching path, as well as the successful renaturation measures of the Bega.
From the Bega-Bad, the bike path winds the last few meters into the city center to Salzhof.
After this impressive beet tour along numerous beet and vegetable fields, a visit to nearby guesthouses and restaurants awaits for a fine meal. Perhaps the restaurant will serve you a beet vegetable or gratin?

The bike tour along the beet route not only raises awareness of regional vegetable cultivation but also of old, native vegetable varieties that deserve a more prominent place on our plates.