Artland Bike Tour

The route of the Artland Bike Tour was revised and newly signposted in April 2022. You can find the current route on this website.

The Artland Bike Tour offers tasteful stage destinations and deep insights into the unique Artland farmhouse culture in abundance. Along the way, you will enjoy the beauty of the old, fertile cultural landscape, the river landscape of the Hase, a detour into the moor, and numerous encounters with history. Rippling grain fields against a backdrop of deep green forests, reed-lined waterways amidst lush meadows, and in between impressive farmsteads with ancient trees and mighty hedges - today, guests on two wheels appreciate the landscape richness of the Artland.

The farmers on around 700 farms on both sides of the Hase River have always appreciated the wealth they owe to the fertile soils. Proudly, they displayed their prosperity on their houses, whose half-timbered facades were adorned by artisans with elaborate carvings and paintings. Today, many of the listed farms host guests, selling regional products in farm shops. And in some places, you will also find accommodation under the ancient oak beams - in cozy holiday apartments or even in an adventurous-romantic setting in the hay.

Half-timbering also shapes the towns and villages of the Artland - especially the old castle and Hanseatic town of Quakenbrück, now the economic and cultural center of the region. But even in the smaller towns, clear signs of early prosperity can be found. For example, in magnificent churches like the Artland Cathedral. Or in the special way, places like Menslage and Gehrde are laid out: houses stand closely packed around the church, only a few gates lead into the "church ring." In times of danger, these gates were closed, and the city's supplies and treasures could be defended like in a castle against besiegers. The Ankumer Höhen bear witness to the fact that the fertile Artland has been inhabited for around 5,000 years. Their builders are considered the first farmers in the northwest. You should also not pass by newer architectural monuments carelessly. Stops are worthwhile, for example, at Everding's Windmill in Groß-Mimmelage, Fürstenau Castle, and the former Cistercian nunnery Stift Börstel. If you have stocked up your provisions basket in one of the farm shops, you can also enjoy a perfect break in the deep forests and moorlands between Berge and Menslage.