Münster & the Surroundings

Day 1: Arrival in Münster
Arrive in Münster and settle in at your hotel and you can then begin your exploration of this energetic university city.  The historical city center is a highlight with its charming Prinzipalmarkt square, lined with 48 gabled buildings. The Salzstrasse, or "salt road", is the oldest mercantile street in the city. Once a trade route, it is now the main shopping district.  It is a dedicated pedestrian area buzzing with activity.

Your subsequent days are entirely up to you! You will be provided route descriptions for seven different cycling itineraries and you decide!

• Tour 1: Haus Langen – Telgte, 29 mi. (47 km) 
  This route initially leads to the Dortmund-Ems Canal and through Boniburgerwald. This pleasant stretch along the Werse River takes you into the suburb of Handorf, also known as the "Dorf der großen Kaffeekannen" or “village of the large coffee pots” as it has always been an attractive destination for the inhabitants of Münster. Shortly after crossing the Ems, you come across Haus Langen and the adjacent natural protection area. You can take in nature with a range of viewing towers, platforms, and benches. Cycling through this green landscape, you will arrive in the small pilgrimage town of Telgte with its small half-timbered houses, a beautiful market square, and the Baroque pilgrimage chapel. The route back to Münster leads through the Emsauerpark and the Delsener Heide to the farming community of Kasewinkel. It is worth taking a break at the historical country inn, Pleistermühle,  before you return to the city of Münster along the tree-lined shores of the Werse River.
   
• Tour 2: Schloss Senden – Senden, 29 mi. (46 km)
  This tour takes you along the Aasee via Mecklenbeck and Albachten to Schloss Senden. The route back is along the Dortmund-Ems-Kanals, past the enchanted Venner Moor and the Hitruper See. From the Aasee, you reach the suburb of Mecklenbeck. Passing Haus Ruhr, a seat of nobility from the 18th century, built by Johann Conrad Schlaun the route leads through woods and meadows to the Stever and the castle with its lovely café. Alternatively, you can stop off at Hof Grothues-Potthoff, which offers regional dishes and a wide selection of cakes. Just past Senden, you join the Dortmund-Ems canal and cycle past Hiltruper See and the harbor back to Münster.
   
• Tour 3: Baumberge / Longinusturm – Havixbeck, 30 mi. (48 km) 
  On this route, you cycle into the Baumberge hills, the highest point of Münsterland, to the Longinusturm Tower, constructed on the highest point in Münsterland (188 m). During the journey, you come across Burg Hülshoff with its lovely parkland and café, as well as Vögeding. The Longinusturm provides a spectacular view over Münsterland. The tower was constructed at the start of the 20th Century and is of the typical lime sandstone of the Baumberg hills. The return route, mostly downhill, takes you through the beautiful parkland back to the city.
   
• Tour 4: Burg Hülshoff, 17 mi. (27 km) 
  This cycling excursion leads to one of the most well-known castles in Münsterland, Burg Hülshoff. But first, you cycle to Schloss Münster. Schloss Münster is by far the largest property in Münster and since 1954 has housed the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität. Behind the castle are the Botanical Gardens in the park.  As you continue out of Münster, the route leads past Haus Rüschhaus to Burg Hülshoff, the birthplace and childhood home of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. The return route is through Roxel to  Aasee Lake back to the hotel.
   
• Tour 5: Burg Schöneflieth – Greven, 27 mi. (44 km) 
  The promenade will loop around to the Buddenturm, the last remaining part of the old city wall. Through the historic Kreuzviertel, you cross over the Aa to Rieselfelder, a European bird protection area. It provides endangered species of birds with refuge and is a popular destination for the inhabitants of Münster. Just before Greven, you come across the ruins of Burg Schöneflieth. You can then decide whether to visit the Sachsenhof open-air museum or go back to Münster. On the way back, the route follows the canal to the Münster locks and then through the Erphoviertel back to the hotel.
   
• Tour 6: Münster – Sculpture Projects, 11 mi. (18 km) 
  Today you will experience art in the open. The 'Skulptur Projekte' art exhibition takes place in Münster every 10 years. Some of the sculptures then become a fixed part of the urban landscape. Along with the 'Skulptur Projekte', there are other installations that you can visit. You start off cycling towards Aasee, a large artificial lake in the center of Münster with lovely lakeside paths. Here you will find the 'Giant Pool Balls' by Claes Oldenburg, perhaps the most well-known work of the Skulptur Projekte. Past the Wilhelms-Universität you continue to the promenade, a car-free boulevard laid along the city's old ring of fortifications and which takes you along a shady path once round the city center. It is worth visiting the Friedensaal in the Town Hall, St. Pauls Dom with the world clock, or one of the many museums.
   
• Tour 7: Hohe Ward – Lake Hiltrup, 20 mi. (31 km) 
  You pedal along the Dortmund-Ems Canal to the forest area of Hohe Ward and onward to Hiltruper See. The Hohe Ward serves as a local recreation area. Shady paths lead through the nature reserve of Wolbecker Tiergarten to the stunningly beautiful Werserradweg (cycling trail). The way back passes the Drostenhof, a manor house dating back to the 16th century. Returning,  you follow the picturesque meandering Werse River leading to the gates of Münster. After a short detour in Lütkenbeck, it is back to the hotel.

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There are two options for accommodations.
The 4-star Kaiserhof Hotel is located directly across from the Münster Main Station. The hotel offers spa services including a steam bath, a bio sauna, and a Finnish sauna. You will be accommodated in a superior room.
You can upgrade to the 4-star Atlantic Hotel, centrally located in Münster between the railway station and the Promenade. Unique in Münster and throughout the city is the bar on the 6th floor with a fantastic view over the historic city center.

Bicycles

Hybrid Bicycle

Exclusive for tour provider

• Aluminum step-through frame
• Small, medium, large frame sizes
• Front suspension
• Small, medium, large frame size
• Shimano 7 speed gearing
• Coaster brake
• Padded comfort saddle
• Rear rack
• LED front & rear lights via battery operation
• Bottle cage

Accessories

• One 20 liters pannier bag
• Speedometer

Electric Bike

Velo de Ville Electric Bike

• Aluminum step-through frame
• Small, medium, large frame sizes
• Front suspension
• Small, medium, large frame size
• Shimano 8-speed gearing
• Bosch Active Plus motor
• 500 watt battery
• 80 - 150 km range
• Coaster brake
• Padded comfort saddle
• LED front & rear lights via battery operation
• Rear rack
• Bottle cage

Accessories

• One 20 liters pannier bag
• Speedometer