The Cloppenburg Museum Village spans a broad sweep of history, while the landscapes around Thülsfelder Talsperre and the Soeste offer their own distinct focus. When planning your trip, you can choose between culture, interactive nature experiences and routes through forests, heathland and lowlands.

Cultural history at the Cloppenburg Museum Village

The Cloppenburg Museum Village – Lower Saxony Open-Air Museum offers vivid insights into the living conditions of the rural population of northwest Germany through around 60 historic buildings. The period covered ranges from the late Middle Ages to the 1980s. This means the focus is not on a single era, but on the long-term changes in rural life. History enthusiasts will find a cultural attraction here that clearly differs from the region’s nature and leisure offerings.

Thülsfelder Talsperre: landscape and adventure trail

Thülsfelder Talsperre is a reservoir fed by the Soeste. It lies in the city of Friesoythe and the municipalities of Garrel and Molbergen, and was built between 1924 and 1927. The reservoir area and its surroundings have been protected as a nature reserve since 1938; since 1999, the area has also been designated a Natura 2000 site under the Habitats Directive. These details give the landscape a clear historical and legal context, alongside its present-day significance for nature.

The adventure trail at Thülsfelder Talsperre has 14 interactive stations. This makes it different from an extensive network of trails: here, individual stations shape the experience, while the roughly 2,000-hectare forest and heathland area of Dwergter Sand in Molbergen has cycling, hiking and riding trails. Before walking the adventure trail, it is advisable to check local conditions.

The Soeste lowlands and trails through Dwergter Sand

From Cloppenburg, you can explore the Soeste lowlands via Ambühren. Expansive grasslands, along with near-natural woodland and marshland, shape the landscape; the area is also home to numerous rare plant and animal species. This is a different nature experience from the reservoir: the Soeste lowlands are defined by their lowland scenery, while Dwergter Sand is characterized by forest, heathland and a network of routes for various activities. Which area you focus on therefore also depends on whether you specifically want to hike, cycle or ride.

More things to do in Petersfeld and Barßel

The “Reservistenfort” adventure playground in Petersfeld features a climbing pyramid, bridge structures, climbing frames, a carousel, an adventure swing and a double zip line. As individual play equipment may change, it is a good idea to check what is available before your visit.

In Barßel, the museum ship “Angela von Barßel” is ready to take passengers on trips. The Angela von Barßel e. V. association offers excursions and special trips that can be booked. Check booking arrangements before your trip. Alongside the museum village and nature attractions, trips aboard a museum ship are another distinct option for an outing.

Choose accommodation to suit your plans

When looking for a hotel or other accommodation, it helps to first decide which activities will shape your stay. Then match the location of each offering to your plans, rather than automatically combining cultural and nature destinations into a fixed itinerary. The options described range from exploring history at the museum village to interactive stations and extensive trails, as well as bookable trips in Barßel. This lets you base your accommodation search on the places that matter to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Molbergen, Cloppenburg, Garrel, Friesoythe, Barßel, Cappeln, Essen, Löningen, Petersfeld, Saterland, Lindern, Bösel, Lastrup, Emstek.

See the regional travel overview: Lower Saxony.