Southern Münsterland

Day 1: Arrival in Münster
Day 2: Münster – Davensberg, 21 or 36 mi. (33 or 58 km) 
Day 3: Davensberg – Lüdinghausen, 24 or 31 mi. (39 or 49 km) 
Day 4: Lüdinghausen – Senden, 24 or 36 mi. (39 or 58 km) 
Day 5: Senden – Billerbeck, 21 or 32 mi. (33 or 51 km) 
Day 6: Billerbeck – Münster, 24 mi. (38 km) 
Day 7: Münster

All distances are approximate. Due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the route, you may find temporary deviations/detours necessary due to roadwork that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions.

Day 1: Arrival in Münster
Upon arrival to Munster, you may check in to your hotel at 3 p.m. You can settle in and visit the nearby city center as your bike will be available this day at 10 a.m.  At Prinzipalmarket, lined with its gabled houses, the village square, and the green Promenadenring, you will get your first glance at this charming city. 

Sample Accommodations: Hotel Kaiserhof or Atlantic Hotel (for additional cost) 

Day 2: Münster – Davensberg, 21 or 36 mi. (33 or 58 km) 
Follow the route along the Dortmund-Ems Canal and Boniburger Wald to reach Telgte, a quaint pilgrimage town on the Ems River with a Baroque chapel and a bustling market square. Continue through fields and meadows along a scenic cycle route to Pleistermühle, a historic spot along the Werse River with a country inn and beer garden. Enjoy views of the historic estates, Haus Bispink and Haus Borg. End the day meandering through the Davert forest.

Sample Accommodation- Hotel Clemens-August
 
Day 3: Davensberg – Lüdinghausen, 24 or 31 mi. (39 or 49 km) 
Today’s stage has two divine moated castles. First up, the Baroque Castle Westerwinkel. Then, through the Ichterloh Nature Reserve with its beautiful picnic place and 1,000-year-old oak, you soon reach Castle Nordkirchen, also referred to as “Westphalia’s Versailles” and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Not only is the interior with ornate plaster ceilings,  precious paintings, tall columns, and  black marble fireplaces are worth seeing, but also the extensive park with its beautiful gardens and the Orangery. You continue to cycle along the charming Stever River to Lüdinghausen. Overnight stay near the castle buildings.

Sample Accommodation: Hotel No 11 or Hotel Steverbett
 
Day 4: Lüdinghausen – Senden, 24 or 36 mi. (39 or 58 km) 
Today starts with visits to Burg Lüdinghausen and Burg Vischering, beautiful fortified castles. You continue along Halterner Borkenberge towards the Halterner Stausee reservoir, a great place for a swim. On the northern side of the Borkenberge, you cycle through fields, forests, and meadows, mostly on the popular 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.

Sample Accommodation: Hofhotel Grothues-Potthoff 
 
Day 5: Senden – Billerbeck, 21 or 32 mi. (33 or 51 km) 
Today’s cycling tour will lead you along the Stever River to Haus Klein-Schoenebeck, an estate from the 14th century. You then pedal through the park-like landscape of the Münsterland region and to Havixbeck. At the foot of the Baumberge, the route leads along the moated castle of Darfeld, one of the most impressive castle estates in the Münsterland, built on two islands. In the state-recognized resort town of Billerbeck, you will discover picturesque little storehouses at Johanneskirchplatz, inviting cafés, and restaurants. The shorter route takes you to the Westerberg, the highest point in the Münsterland. From the Longinus Tower, built of typical Baumberg sandstone, you have a magnificent view over the Münsterland and can already make out Billerbeck, the destination of today‘s stage. At the Kolvenburg, the romantic Martinikirchplatz, and in the town center around the cathedral, you will discover typical Westphalian architecture.

Sample Accommodation: Hotel & Restaurant Mertens Ludgerusbrunnen:  

Day 6: Billerbeck – Münster, 24 mi. (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. 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 botanical garden and the castle garden café.

Sample Accommodations: Hotel Kaiserhof or Atlantic Hotel (for additional cost)  

Day 7: Münster
End of the tour after breakfast or you can add an additional day. Feel free to continue exploring the city until 5 p.m. when your bike will need to be returned.

Extension Day

Münster – Sculpture Projects, 11 mi. (18 km)
Booking an extra night gives you time to experience art in the open. Every 10 years the 'Skulptur Projekte' takes place in Münster and leaves its mark around the city by integrating some of the sculptures in the urban landscape.
You cycle towards Aasee, a large artificial lake in the center of Münster. 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 paved car-free boulevard laid along the city's old ring of fortifications which takes you along a shady path once round the city center. Discover the city on foot and maybe end up looking for more sculptures.
It is worth visiting the Friedensaal in the Town Hall, Dom, and/or one of the many museums. 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.

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On each day’s details, you will find a list of sample accommodations. There is an opportunity to upgrade in Münster for an additional fee. Please note that the final hotel list will be based on availability.

Bicycles

Touring Bike

Exclusive for tour provider

• Aluminum step-through frame
• Small, medium, large frame sizes
• Front suspension
• 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